Attorney, Rotarian, community volunteer, musician

Longtime Claremont resident Marc Winter died peacefully at home surrounded by family on August 29. He was 69.

Marc was born on July 4, 1953, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Joe and Lucille Winter. He was the second of three children. His family moved to Bend, Oregon, in 1957, where he spent most of his childhood. He had fond memories of growing up in Bend with his brother, Bruce, and his sister, Kim. They relocated to Salem, Oregon, during his junior year in high school.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at Linfield College in 1975. He graduated from Willamette University College of Law in 1978. He began his career as an attorney for District Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service in downtown Los Angeles. He packed up his Volkswagen Bug and made the long drive from Salem to Los Angeles, settling in Santa Monica.

While commuting from Santa Monica to Los Angeles on a commuter bus, he met his future wife Janet in 1981. They were married in 1983 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Arcadia, and they bought their first home in San Gabriel. Their daughter Amy was born in 1985 and son Alexander followed in 1988.

In 1986, he joined two former IRS District Counsel colleagues, Marshall Taylor and Karen Simonson, to form the downtown Claremont tax law firm Taylor, Simonson & Winter LLP.

After commuting from San Gabriel for a few years, he and his family moved to Claremont in 1989. The couple raised their children in Claremont and were an active part of the community. He enjoyed coaching AYSO for both Amy and Alex, and he played in a local men’s adult soccer league for many years.

He was an active member of the Claremont Rotary Club for more than 20 years. He served as Rotary Club President from 2011 to 2012. He also served on the board of the Claremont Community Foundation for several years.

Marc had a love for music and was a talented bass guitarist and singer. In junior high, he began playing the bass in a band with neighborhood friends. He went on to play in several high school bands.

After his children left for college, he decided to pick up the bass again. He met John, Jim, and Rick and they formed the classic rock band, The Amazing Tonebenders. The four-member band performed at many local events, including the Taste of Claremont and Friday Nights Live.

After retiring from his law practice in 2018, the couple enjoyed spending time with family and friends and traveling. They especially enjoyed cruises to Australia and New Zealand, New England, Canada, and the Mediterranean. They welcomed grandson Lucas in 2017 and granddaughter Lana in 2020.

He was very active and enjoyed spinning, pickleball, working in his beautiful yard, playing with his grandkids, and serving with his wife on the couples ministry team at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.

“Marc will be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor as well as his kindness and generosity,” his family shared.

He is survived by his wife of more than 39 years, Janet; daughter Amy Hercher (Jeremy) of Cypress; son Alex Winter of San Diego; mother Lucille Winter of Salem, Oregon; brother Bruce Winter (Lynn) of Winter Garden, Florida; and grandchildren Lucas and Lana Hercher.

He was predeceased by his father Joe Winter and his sister Kim Higham.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Marc Winter will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 18 at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, 4201 Eucalyptus Ave., Chino Hills. A reception will follow at the McCoy Equestrian Center, 14280 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends are encouraged to donate to the City of Hope at  cityofhope.org/giving.