Claremont Obituaries

Traveler, theater actor, director, teacher, writer, critic Richard Hornby, who fought Parkinson’s disease for many years, died peacefully just after midnight this past February 11 due to a brain hemorrhage. He had a sweet half-smile on his face to the end, reported his wife Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei. He was 79. He was born October 25, […]

Longtime Claremont residents, together 69 years, died a week apart   Forty-seven year Claremont residents George Murray Bailey, 94, and his loving wife Claire Busk Bailey, 92, shared a poignant end when they died within a week of each other, on July 31 and August 6, respectively. George and Claire moved to Claremont in 1971 […]

Grandmother, world traveler, gifted cook, entertainer Barbara Lew Riskas died with her family by her side on August 31 at the age of 86. She was born December 2, 1931 in Payette, Idaho. Her family lived in many different US cities from when she was born to her early teens. She attended Belmont High School […]

Successful wholesale rose entrepreneur Chino resident Verona E. Weeks died August 29 at the age of 102. She was born March 18, 1916, in Bentonville, Arkansas. For more than 40 years Ms. Weeks was the co-owner of Weeks Wholesale Roses. She utilized her marketing skills to grow the company over the course of 15 years […]

Great grandmother, devoted Catholic, English teacher Margaret Mary (Mackenzie) Cox died peacefully at age 99 on August 29 at her home in Claremont, surrounded by family and her caregiver, Betty Leon. She was born September 29, 1918 in Lake Linden, Michigan to parents Clarissa (Kappler) Mackenzie and Roy Mackenzie. Her family moved to Norfolk, Virginia […]

Beloved family physician, advocate for the mentally ill and addicted Dr. Louis Joseph Biscotti died at his home in San Diego on August 24 at the age of 73 after years of failing health. Dr. Biscotti raised his three children Dina, Bridget and Michael Biscotti in Claremont. From 1980 to 2008 he had a thriving […]

Pioneering aerospace engineer, baseball, movie and music fan, great grandfather John George Gabel, 90, died peacefully at his home in Claremont on August 31 after a very brief illness. John was born in Tonawanda, New York, August 4, 1928 to Josef Gebel and Terese Svarczkopf, both of whom immigrated as teenagers from the same village […]

Harvey Mudd College professor, scientist, husband Philip Cushman Myhre, emeritus professor and former chair of the Department of Chemistry at Claremont’s Harvey Mudd College, died of Alzheimer’s disease on August 26 in Tennessee at the age of 85. He had been cared for at home for many years, and with increased urgency as his struggles […]

On August 20, at the age of 83, Diana Speakman died while surrounded by her family and friends.  Her life was filled with helping and nurturing others as a wife, mother, friend and registered nurse, and she lived a productive, fruitful life, always faithful to her family and savior, her family shared. She was born […]

Claremont High School English teacher, loving mother and grandmother Beloved mother, wife and longtime Claremont High School English teacher Sue Peterson died peacefully at her Rancho Cucamonga home on Saturday, July 14. She was 74. She left a legacy of love and happiness, most notably encapsulated in her magnificent smile, her family shared, adding that […]

Postwar missionary in Asia, educator, peace activist, great grandfather Hallam C. Shorrock, Jr., a former missionary to Japan and South Korea with a long career in international education, died in Claremont on August 8. He was 94. Mr. Shorrock was born December 1, 1923. He married late wife Helen Savage Shorrock on June 6, 1947. […]

Sports entrepreneur, pioneer in large-crowd security, great-grandfather   Lynne Saunders, a much loved father, brother, son, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, died July 31 of natural causes in Hemet, with family and friends by his side. He was 74 years old. He was born in Pomona on April 21, 1944 to loving parents Fiske […]

Grandmother, polyglot, teacher, choir director Ann Lindstaedt Copple was born January 6, 1927 to Arthur and Erma (Smith) Lindstaedt in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1949 she earned a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. This was followed in 1951 with a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a PhD in romance languages from […]

Philanthropist, innovative entrepreneur, ardent music lover Dudley Atkins Rauch died July 26 at his home in Claremont at the age of 77. He was born on July 21, 1941 in Greenwich, Connecticut to Alice Atkins and Henry Rauch. In 1952 the family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduating from New Hampshire’s Phillips Exeter Academy, […]

Steadfast education advocate, CUSD board member, doting grandfather, loyal friend Sam Mowbray, a kind, even-handed presence in Claremont public life for decades, has died. Mr. Mowbray died Thursday, July 19 at San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland after suffering a heart attack. He was 74 years old. Mr. Mowbray was a longtime volunteer and educational […]

Outdoor enthusiast, athlete, electronics whiz Leah Naomi Horowitz was born June 21, 1983 in Pasadena to Marci and Larry Horowitz. She grew up in Claremont, attending Sycamore Elementary, El Roble Intermediate School and graduating from Claremont High School in 2001. Leah had a deep reverence for life and was in awe of the natural beauty […]