Claremont Obituaries

Virginia Benningfield, mother of former Claremont Mayor Diann Ring, died peacefully July 1 at Mount San Antonio Gardens with her granddaughter, Susan Ring, and close friends and caregivers at her side. She was born July 7, 1922, and had celebrated her 100th birthday with a large party last year.

Colin Campbell McDonald, M.D., died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes March 10 at the age of 93.

Longtime Claremont resident Marguerite “Peg” Helena (Belair) Swanberg died July 7. She was 92.

Patricia A. Lambert died peacefully of natural causes on June 14 at her home in Claremont. She was 85.

On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Andrew Rankin Caddes, beloved father, brother, uncle, and friend, died peacefully in Brea, California. He was 76 years old.

Longtime Claremont residents John R. Serpa, 91, and Margaret R. Serpa, 96, died within days of each other, peacefully in their home, on June 21 and June 23, respectively. They were lovingly married for 66 years.

Ruth Oakyung Chung, daughter of the Rev. Robert Chung and Kyong Sook Chung, and sister of Elliott Chung, Paul Chung, and Larry Jhung, (all deceased), died peacefully on the evening of June 19 at age 88.

Independent, straight-talking, and always brimming with motherly love and advice, Lynne Spear — a 44-year Claremont resident and retired Pitzer College staffer — died after a sudden illness on May 24, just days short of her 84th birthday. 

“We mourn the loss of Hans C. Palmer, who died on May 26, 2023, at the Vinson Hall Retirement Community in McLean, Virginia,” his family shared. He had been ill for the previous six weeks.

Hans’ parents, Hans Peter Palmer and Dagny Ella Stockel Palmer, immigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1923. They eventually settled in New York City, where Hans was born on September 21, 1933.

Jane Prendergast, 81, of Claremont, died March 13. 

Jane was born on December 14, 1941 to Eleanor and Gerard McGinty in New York. She grew up in the Bronx with her brothers James (“Jim”) and John (“Jack”), and her sister Patricia. The McGinty family spent summers at the family beach bungalow in Breezy Point, New York, where she developed many happy memories and a lifelong love of the sea. 

Elvira Leticia Cuevas-Fisch, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, died on June 2 at age 70. She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, to Jose and Dolores Cuevas. As a child, Elvira and her family moved to Los Angeles. Together with her three sisters and two brothers, she grew up in Boyle Heights, a wonderfully diverse community that helped her forge a proud identity that was fully American and Mexican.

Phyllis Case Bennett, who would have been 90 this Sunday, June 18, died after a very brief illness during Covid on February 15, 2021. “We miss her very much,” her family shared. Phyllis was born June 18, 1933, and lived her entire life in Claremont and Pomona. Her Case family grandparents came to Claremont from Ohio in the 1890s and early 1900s. They were shopkeepers and home builders. Her father Harvey rose to captain in the Claremont Police Department before becoming chief in San Dimas.

Shannon Scott died March 23 from complications of pneumonia following a brief hospitalization. She was 53 years old.

Brennan Bodhaine, born in Upland on April 24, 1991, brought joy and adventure to everyone who crossed his path. “On April 26, Brennan’s time on earth came to an end at age 32, but his memory will live on through the hearts of those who he touched,” his family shared.