Dr. Gary Y. Iida, a longtime teacher with the Claremont Unified School District and a staple of the local music scene, died on Friday, November 8, 2013. He was 71.

Dr. Iida was a longtime music instructor and band director at El Roble Intermediate and Claremont High School and served for many years as an associate conductor with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra.

A Claremont memorial celebration will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, November 23. Details will follow in a further edition of the COURIER.