Husband, father, pharmacist

Thirty-nine year Claremont resident Richard Eugene Nunes died peacefully, with his family by his side, on October 13, 2017 in Ontario, California, following a two-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79.

Mr. Nunes was born April 29, 1938 in Lewellen, Nebraska, the fifth of six children to parents Anthony Nunes and Martina Mary Nelson. He graduated from Alliance High School in 1955, where he was on the track team. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force, where he was trained as a pharmacy technician.  

After serving four years in the Air Force, he decided to move to California, where he met his wife to be, Belen. The couple was married August 10, 1963. They lived in Torrance, California.

With aspirations of providing a better life for his family, Mr. Nunes continued his education. He graduated from El Camino College on June 19, 1970 with an associate of arts degree. He earned his doctor of pharmacy degree on June 6, 1974 from the USC School of Pharmacy.

He then decided to uproot his growing family, moving to Claremont in 1978. Mr. Nunes enjoyed the simple things in life, such as taking his daughter to rehearsals, coaching little league baseball and taking his older daughter to her softball games. He also enjoyed working in the yard, classic cars, classic rock and roll, going out to dinner, exercising, watching tennis and his favorite television programs Dancing With the Stars, The Voice and American Idol.

Mr. Nunes’ career included positions at Hawthorne Community Hospital, Little Company of Mary, Los Angeles County Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Doctors Hospital of Montclair, Chino Men’s Prison and Lanterman Developmental Center, from where he retired in 2005. 

His sense of humor, infectious smile, quiet nature, and his inimitable wink will be missed by all who knew him, his family shared. He will be loved and missed forever.  

Mr. Nunes is survived by his wife Belen; his children Tina, Anthony, Mark, Michele, Nelson and daughter-in-law Emily; and his siblings John Nunes, Tony Nunes and Phyllis Schultz. 

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 6 at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 435 Berkeley Ave., in Claremont.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Nunes’ name to Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church at olaclaremont.org.