Claremont Obituaries

Richard Ray (Dick) Ellsworth died peacefully on August 15 in Cambria, California after gracefully enduring the challenges of Parkinson’s disease. He died at home with his beloved wife Maribeth at his side soon after loving farewell visits from his family. Dick was born in 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Melvin and Aladine Ellsworth. He was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and San Marino, California. While attending San Marino High School and Occidental College he played football on both varsity teams and maintained long-term friendships with many of the players.

Dr. Dennis Harold Nicholson, cherished husband, father, and friend, died peacefully on August 13 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, just four days shy of his 80th birthday. His family is grateful for the exceptional care Dr. Nicholson received from the physicians, nurses, and staff at PVHMC as well as from specialists at Scripps Memorial Hospital and the City of Hope.

Patriarch of large family, successful salesman, sports fan, John Michael (aka Mike) Mills died peacefully on July 18 at his home in Sacramento.

Donald Paul Sturgis died peacefully Saturday morning August 13, surrounded by loved ones in the home where he had lived for the past 60 years. He was 90 years old. Don was born in Parksley, Virginia on January 20, 1932, to Dorsey and Eva Sturgis. Dorsey was a minister and Don was born in the parsonage. The family moved to the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. in 1940 and settled in Bradbury Heights, also in D.C., in 1946.

Marshall Scott Quackenbos, a lifelong Claremonter, died from pancreatic cancer on August 11 at the family home on Alma Court, with family and friends by his side. He was 57 years old. Scott, as everyone knew him, was born June 2, 1965, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, California. He graduated from Claremont High School in 1983.

On Friday, July 22 Bernard “Bernie” Tecotzky died peacefully with his family at his side at Claremont Manor. He was 94. Bernie had been living in the assisted living community since 2014.

William D. (Bill) Thomas died peacefully on June 29, four days short of his 98th birthday, at Mt. San Antonio Gardens in Pomona.

Harold Sigurd Runsvold Jr. was born on June 25, 1935, in San Diego, California and died on July 8, 2022, in Nashville at the age of 87. He was predeceased by his parents Harold and Lucille Runsvold, and nephew Devin F. Brown.

Patricia Ann Beisser Pascal died after a short illness on December 10, 2021, at 97 years old, with her family by her side.

Granville Conner Henry III died a year ago on July 28, 2021, at the age of 89. Granville was a Southerner who became both a Westerner and a Midwesterner.

Michael Keys Snelson was born January 11, 1946 and left this world on July 6. He was 76 years old.

Couple lived in Claremont for 60 of their 68 years of marriage Dr. Jerome (Joe) Linne Johnson and Molly Ann Rideout Johnson were buried together at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont on June 27, on what would have been their 69th wedding anniversary. Dr. Johnson, who was a resident of Pilgrim Place Health Services Center […]

Longtime Claremont resident Meredith McGovney Kaplan died on June 28 at her home in Oakland, surrounded by family, after a difficult battle with multiple system atrophy, a degenerative illness.

Longtime Claremont resident Tom Deno died June 8, joining his wife Diane on “the great walking path in the sky,” his family shared.

Longtime Claremont resident Robert “Bob” Boss died June 2 at Claremont Manor Care Center.

Great-grandfather, U.S. military veteran, traveler, entrepreneur On May 20, longtime Claremont resident Ken (Kenny) Vetterli died peacefully at the home of his daughter, with much of his family at his bedside. He was 92 years old. Son of Byron and Edna Vetterli, Ken was born and raised in Pasadena. After serving for five years in […]