Helen Marie Curran, a longtime Claremont resident, died on Sunday, June 14, 2015. She was 93.

She was born on February 26, 1922, the only child of Frances and Simon “Cy” Shribman, a big band entrepreneur who owned dance halls throughout New England and whose endeavors included financing recordings by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

She obtained a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Simmons University in 1947. She later worked as a secretary at Suffolk University where she met and married a college professor, musician and artist named Clyde Curran. They moved to Claremont, where Mr. Curran was a professor of philosophy at the Claremont Graduate University.

The Currans later retired in Laguna Woods, where she lived for the past 20 years. 

Helen had several great passions in life: animal rights, healthcare freedom, jazz and literature. Having survived metastasized melanoma using metabolic therapy, she counseled many cancer patients regarding the benefits of nontoxic cancer treatment. She published a book called Apricot Power: How Laetrile Cured My Cancer and served as president of the Laguna Woods Nutrition Club.

Spirituality was another touchstone in Mrs. Curran’s life. She led the “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit” group at the Leisure World retirement community and organized Transcendental Meditation meetings and Kabbalah discussions in her home that were facilitated by Dr. Michael Grossman. Helen, a seeker from birth, was inspired by the Baha’is of Laguna Woods. She joined the Baha’i faith and made many friends among the Baha’i community as well as throughout Laguna Woods.

Mrs. Curran will be remembered for her sense of humor, her willingness to help others, her capacity to appreciate beauty and her ability to find joy in everyday living.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Curran in 1996. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Fred Powell of Santa Barbara. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PETA, to your local, no-kill animal shelter or the Cancer Control Society (2043 N. Berendo St., Los Angeles, CA 90027).