Delores Lillian Burris died peacefully November 13 at age 89 in Claremont after a brief illness. Delores was a dedicated and loving partner to Nancy Clark and co-mother to five children.

She was born in 1933 in Detroit, Michigan but lived most of her life in and around Los Angeles, graduating magna cum laude from Immaculate Heart College in 1973 with a major in Spanish and minor in social relations.

In addition to being an amazing friend to all who knew her, she was a gifted writer and eloquent speaker. She had a successful career in higher education administration at UCLA Extension and then Claremont Graduate University’s teacher education program. She had a love for learning that was contagious.

She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair and participated in many educational and philanthropic activities.

“One of her most enduring qualities was her ability to make you feel like you were the only person in the world when she talked to you,” her family shared. “She had a knack for making people feel special and never had a bad word for anyone.”

She is survived by her partner, Nancy Clark; daughters Lisa Loop, Jennifer Clark, Kimberly Richartz, Melissa Jackson, and Christina Clark. The list of people who loved her continues with her cousins Dana Johnson, his wife Martha, and Dwayne Johnson; ten grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and too many dear friends to count.

She was predeceased by her mother Dorothy; brother Charles; aunt Grace; and granddaughter Meghan Richartz.