Beloved mother, long-time community activist and volunteer, traveler

Eugenia “Ginger” Elliott died June 13 after a brief illness. Ginger was born and raised in Boston. She attended Regis College and went on to attend Boston College, where she earned a master’s degree in history. She worked as a teacher in the Boston area for a few years.

After marrying Thomas Elliott, they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, where she worked as an assistant dean. After a few years in Michigan, she moved to California when Thomas was hired at Cal Poly Pomona. There she worked as a registrar at the La Verne School of Law (now University of La Verne College of Law), and later as an admissions counselor at Pomona College.

The couple bought a home in Claremont in the 1970s, where she remained until moving to Mt. San Antonio Gardens in 2022. In Claremont, she quickly became involved in local community issues, causes and events, and was an active member of the League of Women Voters, where she met many lifelong friends and worked on many different issues and causes. She served on the board of Pilgrim Place, and at Mt. San Antonio Gardens before she became a resident. She later served on the Mt. San Antonio Gardens Board as a resident member until her death.

“Ginger further increased her activities in Claremont, putting her history degree and community ties to good use when she was hired as executive director of Claremont Heritage, a role she served in for over 25 years,” her family shared. While working with Claremont Heritage, and for years into her retirement, she gave walking tours of downtown Claremont and the Claremont Colleges. She also provided a very popular program about Claremont history to all Claremont Unified School District third graders for many years. She was involved in Claremont’s safe and healthy housing program, and supported many other organizations and nonprofits. “She looked forward to adopting a family each holiday season through Inland Valley Hope Partners, a tradition that will continue by way of her family for years to come,” her family said. “She also helped plan and execute various community and school events, served as a team mom for countless soccer teams, was active with the Claremont High School swim team, and always provided a helping hand wherever she was needed.”

Her various community activities earned her the title of grand marshal in Claremont’s Fourth of July parade in 2007.

“When she was not helping to save Claremont landmarks such as the Santa Fe Railroad Depot, Arbol Verde, and the Packing House, Ginger and her family enjoyed travelling, enjoying time in Hawaii, and trips home to Boston to visit family, as well as local trips to places such as Yosemite, San Diego and Laguna Beach, which became a favorite, and overseas vacations to England, Ireland, France, Greece and Spain,” her family added.

She sold her longtime Claremont home in 2022 and joined many of her friends at Mt. San Antonio Gardens, where she met many new friends and became active with a number of committees, including one charged with planning and carrying out resident parties and events.

In addition to her community involvement, she was a good friend to many in Claremont and beyond. “She was a dedicated wife to Thomas Elliott, and a dedicated and loving mother to Christine, providing enough unconditional love and support to last a lifetime, not to mention the friendship and fun that was had,” her family said. “Ginger was always game for trips and adventures, with recent trips including feeding llamas and other animals in Joshua Tree, sleeping over at and touring the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and many trips to enjoy the beach, great restaurants and shopping.”

She is survived by daughter Christine Elliott; brother Dennis Coleman and his wife Ann Coleman; nieces and nephews Beth Coleman Russet, Jennifer Coleman White, James Elliott and John Elliott; and her beloved cat Rusty.

She was predeceased by husband Thomas J. Elliott; mother Elizabeth Houghton Coleman; father Francis Coleman; and brother-in-law John Elliott.

A celebration of life will be held July 19 at Claremont Heritage, with further details to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Claremont Heritage at claremontheritage.org, or Inland Valley Hope Partners at inlandvalleyhopepartners.org.