Claremont Obituaries
Great-grandmother, longtime CGU, Casa Colina employee, artist, volunteer Judith Coyle (Jewart) Piette died peacefully at age 90 on April 27 in Sebastopol, California with her children at her side. Judy was born in Syracuse, New York on May 31, 1933 and raised in Hartford, West Virginia, Oklahoma City, and Covina. After raising her family of […]
Gifted athlete, college administrator Ray Eberle of Upland died August 15, 2014 at Silverado Sierra Vista Memory Care Community in Azusa from frontotemporal dementia. He was 73. He was born in Buffalo, New York on April 27, 1941, the son of Raymond and Genevieve Eberle. He grew up playing all kinds of sports but excelled […]
Professor, loving husband and father Langdon Elsbree, a longtime Claremont resident, died on June 21, 2014, two days before his 85th birthday. Mr. Elsbree began his life on June 23, 1929, becoming a “birthright Friend” and resident of Wallingford, Pennsylvania. His first formal education was at The School in Rose Valley, founded by a group […]
Professor, world traveler, loving grandmother Lore M. Dormer, a longtime Claremont resident, died on July 2, 2014. She was 89. She was born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1925 and earned a master’s degree from Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen, Germany. In 1954, she met Major Thomas L. Dormer, then a captain in the US Army […]
Ruth Bobo, a longtime Claremont High School teacher, died peacefully on Saturday, June 7, 2014 surrounded by family and friends. She was 76. Mrs. Bobo was born on March 16, 1938 in Parker, California to Arlie Moultrie and Evelyn Moultrie (née Moats). Soon, the family returned to Moulton, Alabama. While her father, a carpenter, ran […]
School counselor, loving mother and grandmother Kay Smith, a longtime Claremont resident, died on April 15, 2014 at home due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis. She was surrounded by family and by the love and prayers of her numerous friends. Mrs. Smith was born in Richmond, Indiana on February 17, 1941 to George and Virginia […]
Patricia “Trish” Branley, a longtime COURIER photographer, died on January 6, 2014 after a battle with cancer. She was born in Florida, the second of four children who were doted on by their father, John Branley. Young Trish was a real beach lover while living in the Sunshine State, her sister Pam shared. She enjoyed […]
Conservationist, community-builder, jazz lover Michael Zachary Heilpern died peacefully at his home in Claremont on February 15, 2014. He was 63 years old. He was born December 15, 1950 in the Bronx, New York. Much of his childhood was spent in the idyllic Westchester County neighborhood of Peekskill. He was the first child born to […]
Adoring wife, supportive mother Anita Gwen Shanahan died at her home on December 30, 2013 after a 10-month battle with bile duct cancer. She was 57. Mrs. Shanahan was born in the small coal mining town of Dante, Virginia in August 1956. She lived there for several years with her aunt Maggie Kiser and her […]
Loving father, caring husband, Claremont son Claremont native George Copenhaver died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm on December 28, 2013. He was 53. Mr. Copenhaver was born April 1, 1960 to Daniel and Cosette Copenhaver of Claremont. He was one of two children and often spent time with his sister Jean. He attended Claremont High […]
Joan Carolyn Coats, a teacher at La Verne’s Calvary Baptist School and Claremont resident, died on Wednesday, December 11 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 73. Services will be held Friday, January 3, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church, located at 2990 Damien Ave., in La Verne. Ms. Coats […]
Dr. Earl James “Jim” Fahringer, Claremont Symphony Orchestra music director emeritus, died on December 7, 2013. He was 78. Dr. Fahringer dedicated his musical life to the CSO. During the past 53 years, he served as violinist, violist, percussionist, assistant conductor and for 32 years, as music director. He was also co-conductor of the Claremont […]
Beloved husband, father and educator Robert “Bob” Charles Sauter, PhD, died at his longtime home in Claremont on September 1, 2013 surrounded by family. He was 88. Mr. Sauter was born in Buffalo, New York, the eldest of 3 boys, and was a very loving and thoughtful son and protective big brother. After graduating from […]
Devoted husband, father, Claremont champion A 40-year resident of Claremont, Algird “Al” Leiga died August 2, 2013 at Pomona Valley Hospital following a brief hospitalization and a losing battle with cancer. Mr. Leiga was 80 years of age. The man who would become a local stalwart was born in New York City on March 25, […]
Legendary CHS football coach Legendary football coach Leonard Cohn died on June 26, 2013 at the age of 93. Coach Cohn inspired hundreds of athletes and students during his 18 years at Claremont High School (CHS) in the 1950s and 1960s. Amassing a formidable football coaching record of 141 wins, 19 losses and one tie, […]
Musician John William Harrelson, a legendary fixture in Claremont’s music scene, died on June 26, 2013 in Upland, California. He was 62. Mr. Harrelson was born on September 28, 1950 in Gadsden, Alabama to Doris Elizabeth Harrelson (Martin) and John Pershing Harrelson. He spent his first years in surroundings marked by his father’s pecan orchards, […]
Teacher, historian, loving husband and father Michael Riggio, known among family and friends as Mickey, died peacefully in his sleep on April 24, 2013 after recurrence and complications from cancer. He was 76. Mr. Riggio, a 34-year resident of Claremont, died with dignity and courage, family shared. His loving wife was at his side and […]