Claremont Obituaries
Raymond Frederick “Fred” Zuker, 77, of Longview, Texas, died November 13 surrounded by family. Services were held November 18 in Longview, Texas. In lieu of flowers, a donation is encouraged to the Women’s Center of East Texas at wc-et.org/give in honor of his late wife, Melody; the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org; or to a charity of your choice.
James Howard Martin died peacefully at his home in Claremont on August 1, 2023 at the age of 80. Jim was born on August 17, 1942 in McMinnville, Oregon to Robert and Alvenia Martin. The eldest of three brothers, he led a fulfilling life that included the love of family, as well as traveling across the globe and learning about its people.
David Wilbur Augsburger, husband of Leann Elrich Augsburger, died Oct. 30 at his home in Claremont, surrounded by his wife and daughters. He was 85.
Beloved mother and grandmother, Janet Szijj died on October 22 at the age of 89 with family at her side.
William Merrill (Bill) Moremen died peacefully on October 17 at Pilgrim Place Health Services Center, with his wife present. He was 95 years old.
Melinda passed peacefully at home on September 23, 2023, surrounded by her loving family after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Dallas, Texas to Donna and George Lyon on April 16, 1951, she was the second of four daughters. Growing up, she had a quiet independent nature and marched to the beat of her own drum. Early on, she developed a love of animals and the outdoors which would become part of her character and moniker that described who she was and how she lived her life.
Dr. Delores June “Dee” Kelley (née Greco), late of Claremont, passed away suddenly of a heart attack on October 1, 2023 at home.”
Arlene Lois Kniep, born March 19, 1932, in Madison, Wisconsin, died peacefully on September 27 in Claremont. She was 91.
Elizabeth Russell, noted health care executive, has died. Her family announced her passing on September 26 in La Jolla, California. She was 72 years of age. The cause of death was esophageal cancer.
Stephen A. Erickson, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Pomona College, died September 20 at the age of 83 of Parkinson’s disease.
Distinguished American novelist Lawrence Allen Thornton died June 20 in Pomona. He was 85 years old.
“Dorothy Catherine O’Brien went on to join her growing family in heaven on September 24, 2023 in the peace of a cool morning, with that ever present smile,” her family shared.
Born Myra Goldstein on June 17, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York, Myra White died peacefully on August 13 at age 97 at her home in Claremont surrounded by family.
Cherry C. Donaldson, a 43-year Claremont resident, died peacefully on Friday, June 2 after a long decline due to old age and Parkinson’s disease. She was 91.
Julie Allyn Nicoletta died peacefully at her home in Seattle on August 28 after a two year battle with lung cancer. Her husband, Michael Kucher, son, Luca Kucher, mother, Stella Nicoletta, and younger sister Amy Nicoletta were by her side. She was 57 years old.
Kathleen Fairley (nee McEnaney) died peacefully recently at her Upland home surrounded by her family after a tenacious battle with cancer. She was 80 years old. Kathleen was born in Balbriggan, County Dublin, Ireland in 1943, and also lived in Geneva, Switzerland, London, and other British towns, before emigrating to Canada and finally moving to Upland in 1984. While her growing family took most of her time and focus, she moved on to a successful career at Claremont McKenna College, retiring in 2008.
“Jacob’s strength and perseverance were illuminated brightest early Monday morning, August 14, when he made the honest and brave decision to actively seek treatment for drug addiction. Jacob’s parents and family will never forget the selflessness of this decision, as they all understood the fear and pain that accompanied it,” his family shared. During the course of his treatment, he suffered a medical complication known as superior mesenteric artery syndrome, which led to a series of cardiac arrests. “On August 20, at the age of 18, Jacob was cured of his addiction, free of pain, as he took his last breath on this earth surrounded by the three people, his beloved brother and adoring parents, that loved him most, waking up in the arms of his Heavenly Father, who loves him even more. He joins his Grandfather Michael Turko, aka ‘Grandpa Turk,’ who went to Heaven before him.”