Claremont Obituaries
Jack Dwayne Blair, age 88, died peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on August 5 in Claremont. He was born March 21, 1936, in Astoria, Oregon, to parents Ralph and Anna Blair. He later moved to California where he married Pamela Blair, “his one true love, and together they raised their family,” his family shared.
Great-grandfather, decorated U.S. Army veteran, world traveler, jazz musician and deejay Lothar “Larry” Fox died November 15 at age 91 in Upland. Larry was known and acclaimed for many things during his rich and varied life. He earned a number of medals during his 27-year career with the U.S. Army, including the Bronze Star, the […]
Mark Thomas Hunter died peacefully November 4 at his home in Chino at the age of 60. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Jennifer; children, Addison, Michael (Melissa) and Justin; stepson, Alex; daughter-in-law, Taylor; grandchildren, Hailey and Mila; mother, Nancy; brothers, Brian and Michael; sister-in-law, Tammy; and nephews, Scott and Ryan. He […]
Beloved sister, aunt, chef, volunteer, small business owner, furniture restorer, antiques dealer Suzanne Charlotte Festag Colp, a longtime Phoenicia, New York resident, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, from injuries sustained in a fall at her home last July. She was 67. A native Californian, Suzanne was born on April […]
Grandfather, Christian, “Mr. Patriotic” Longtime Claremont resident Jim Brost died November 27 at Sunrise Assisted Living after enduring a long illness. He was 76. Jim was born February 3, 1944 in Seattle, Washington to loving parents Otto and Agatha Brost. When he was five, the Brost family moved from Glendive, Montana to Pomona. He graduated […]
Grandfather, husband, decorated US Navy veteran, engineer Donald Lee “Don” Obert was born November 8, 1935. His father, William John Obert, was from New York and his mother, Betty Jane Bohley, from Cleveland. Don grew up with his father near the mid-Wilshire district of Los Angeles. Those were delightful early years which saw bus trips […]
Mother, longtime Claremont elementary school teacher, beloved matriarch, volunteer Sylvia Ann Phillips-Walker died peacefully on November 3 at the age of 77. She was surrounded by her three children and husband during her extensive hospital stay and at the time of her transition. Sylvia was born January 16, 1943 in Charleston, West Virginia to Theodore […]
Loving husband, father, computer science professor, jazz educator, musician, mentor Robert (Bob) M. Keller died September 13 at age 76 in Claremont after a battle with aggressive brain cancer, his wife and sons at his side. Bob was an internationally recognized computer scientist and a talented jazz musician. Over the years, he held faculty positions […]
Mother, award-winning artist, Pomona College grad Penelope “Penny” Claire Ross, age 59, died the evening of October 7 at her home in Houston, Texas after a nearly two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1961 to Ralph Ross, a philosophy professor, and Alicia Johnson, a computer programmer, she spent her youth […]
Beloved father, grandfather, 40-year Cal Poly Pomona professor Beloved father and grandfather Laszlo Szijj died October 3 at the age of 88. Laszlo was born in Budapest, Hungary on February 16, 1932. He developed an interest in the natural world from an early age, and along with his brother Josef, pursued a career in academia. […]
CGU grad, political consultant, traveler, pianist Peter Dan Vasilovich was born September 5, 1946, in Fresno, California. His grandparents immigrated to America from Montenegro in 1914. He grew up on his family’s farm in Reedley, California, attended rural elementary schools and Reedley High School, where he served as student body president and boys’ state representative. […]
Professor, pastor, social activist, musician, woodworker Stanley Raymond Moore, longtime Pilgrim Place resident, died October 3, at the age of 90. Many Claremont residents will remember him as “Stan the Music Man,” singing kids’ songs at the annual Pilgrim Place Festival. He was a founding member of the Pilgrim Pickers, a folk music ensemble, and […]
Dedicated Latter-day Saint, teacher, artist Barbara Gustaveson died October 4 due to complications from sepsis. She was 61. She was born in Pomona on September 27, 1959 to Robert Carl Gustaveson and Julia Anne Neville Gustaveson. Barbara grew up in Pomona and Claremont, graduating from Claremont High School in 1977. She served a mission for The Church […]
Grandmother, beloved music teacher, musician Evelyn Gladys Hubacker died in her home on Thursday morning, October 8 at the age of 84. Evelyn was born March 3, 1936 and grew up in the state of Michigan. She was the youngest child of the late Earl Frederick and Gladys (Berne-Allen) Hubacker. She is survived by her […]
Great-grandmother, Pomona College, CGU grad, professor, writer, dedicated environmentalist Betty Jean Barnes, a longtime resident of Claremont and most recently of Mt. San Antonio Gardens, died peacefully at age 99 on Thursday evening October 8, with her son Jeff at her side. She leaves three children, Loren Herold, Jeff Barnes and Betsy Bishop; five grandchildren; […]
Grandfather, sports fan, friend to all Calvin K. Merrill, 81, died August 11 in Claremont. Calvin was born May 1, 1939 in Blackfoot, Idaho to Ralph and Lucille Merrill, the youngest of 13 children. He spent his childhood on a farm in Moreland, Idaho and enjoyed all of the benefits of living the farm life. […]
Retired firefighter, beloved husband, father, grandfather, son and brother Kevin S. Lee died September 15 at 61 years of age due to complications from knee replacement surgery. Kevin was born May 4, 1959 to Claire and Bob Lee, who moved their young family to Claremont in 1964. He attended Condit Elementary, El Roble Intermediate and […]