Claremont Obituaries
Lifelong Arbol Verde resident, farmworker, nurse, devout Catholic matriarch Nellie Villanueva, a lifelong Arbol Verde east barrio resident, farmworker, nurse, devout Catholic matriarch, Padua Hills Theatre Mexican folklorico dancer, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, has died. Once described by renowned Latina actress Alma Martinez as “the first lady of Claremont,” Villanueva […]
World traveler, Tournament of Roses Queen finalist, beloved wife Geraldeane (Jerri) Eyrich died March 19 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center surrounded by her immediate family, after sustaining a head injury during a fall a week earlier. She was 87. Jerri was born in El Paso, Texas on July 20, 1932 to Kendall and Deane […]
Faithful Christian, cherished mother, longtime CUSD employee Wanda “Maxine” (Skaggs) Ross, 87, died April 9 at A Touch of Excellence care home in Peoria, Arizona. Maxine was born June 13, 1932 in Potosi, Missouri. She was the eighth and final child of Thomp and Annie (Coffman) Skaggs. Her siblings called her “Mac,” and she was […]
Distinguished Pitzer College professor, social justice advocate, 50-year Pomona resident Distinguished Professor Emerita of English and black studies at Pitzer College Agnes Moreland Jackson died April 8 after a long illness. She was 89 years old. Ms. Jackson was a Pomona Unified School District Trustee for eight years, a longtime social justice community advocate and […]
Author, teacher, editor, creative force, longtime Claremont resident Katharine Miller Morsberger, a longtime Claremont resident, died at home March 25, following a brief respiratory illness. Born May 6, 1931, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, Katharine was the daughter of Stephen James Miller and Eleanor Loomis Miller. The family moved to Asheville, North Carolina when she was 12. […]
Proud Buckeye, meat and poultry product designer, woodworker, gardener Dennis L. Grubel, age 69, died March 1. Dennis was born in Tiffin, Ohio on April 29, 1950, to John O. and Anna Lawhead Grubel, and lived in Claremont at the time of his death. He graduated from Mohawk High School in Sycamore, Ohio, in 1968. He […]
OLA parishioner, amateur astronomer, electronic engineer Raymond Magdziarz died on March 17 from several health issues, including complications from diabetes. He was 91. Ray is survived by his wife of 58 years, Irene (nee Elwart); children, Anne (husband Erik), William (wife Dawn), Susan, and Robert (wife Suzanne); and granddaughter Audrey. He was born in Chicago […]
Longtime El Roble guidance counselor, classic car enthusiast, loving father and husband Charles Edmund Sullivan, 81, died peacefully from natural causes at his home in Claremont on March 28. Memorial services will be held at a date yet to be determined. Chuck was born in Boston to Nell and Edmund Sullivan on December 30, 1938. […]
Storyteller, teacher, music lover, husband, father, friend David Reisman loved a good story, especially if the story involved his family. Whether everyday (a comical snafu at work or the daily antics of Gray the lovable Schnoodle), or extraordinary (ice climbing through the Grand Tetons or drinking wine over Victoria Falls in Zambia), he wanted to […]
Claremont native, Harley enthusiast, animal lover, known for joyous, kind, loving spirit Karyn Beth McGan (Chassman), born in Schenectady, New York on March 6, 1963, died of natural causes on March 16 in Riverside, California at the age of 57. Karyn spent her childhood in Claremont, attending Sycamore Elementary School, El Roble Intermediate School, Claremont […]
US Army veteran, devoted family man, committed Catholic Robert “Bob” Raymond Rudolph died peacefully on February 28, comforted by his adoring wife and children. He was a beloved husband to Dolores (nee Blaszczyk), loving father to Doug (wife Lorrie), Rob (wife Sonia), and Barbara (husband Rob); devoted brother to Violet; cherished grandfather to Dylan, Heather, […]
High school administrator, world traveler, Pomona College, CGU grad Patrick Andrew Powell, 90, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday morning, February 26. He was born January 23, 1930 in Loma Linda, California to Stephen Powell and Margaret Laurie Powell, the youngest of their three sons. He grew up in Fontana with his extended family, […]
Theater major, model, beloved great-grandmother, tireless volunteer Mary Martha (“Dolly”) Barkley died peacefully on February 29 in Claremont. She was born at her family’s home in Gadsden, Arizona, to Leslie and Floy Barkley, along with her brother Jimmy. Mary Martha grew up on her family’s cattle ranch in the Yuma Valley. Her idyllic childhood there […]
Former Claremont city manager, US Marine, world traveler, runner, nature lover Keith Fitzalan Mulrooney, 87, a lifelong public servant and longtime resident of Alexandria, Virginia, died peacefully with his family around him on February 14. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he graduated from Stanford University with a BA in history and later received a […]
Longtime Claremont McKenna professor Husband, father, grandfather, and professor for 35 years at Claremont McKenna College, Phillip Young Koldewyn died March 1 at his home in Centennial, Colorado. He was 89 years old. Phillip was born in Loma Linda, California on March 2, 1931 to William and Rebecca Koldewyn, the first of four children. After […]
Longtime APU employee, loving mother, grandmother, woman of faith Elaine Charlotte Gardner Baugus died peacefully in hospice care on February 23 with family by her side. She was 91. Born on May 1, 1928 in Pasadena, Elaine was the firstborn of a Nazarene minister, Dr. J. Russell Gardner, and his wife Marion. In her formative […]
Rosario “Chayo” Gass was born at home in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico on September 27, 1926, and died at home in Claremont, on February 8. As a young woman, she enjoyed her family and friends in Mazatlán and built relationships that lasted her lifetime. She was sent to boarding school in San Diego to learn English […]