Carl D. Hess, a resident of Upland since 1950, died from Alzheimer’s disease on April 6, 2009 at North San Antonio Senior Care of Upland. He was 82.

Born on April 5, 1927 in La Palma, Arizona, Dr. Hess was the youngest of 6 children of a Mennonite minister. At age 7, after the family farm suffered a fire, he moved with his family to California, settling in Orange where his father had been called to minister at a church.  Eventually, he graduated from high school in South Gate.

Dr. Hess earned his undergraduate degree from Azusa Bible College (now Azusa Pacific University) where he also met the love of his life, Mary Jane Lehman, who had recently arrived to teach music. They married in 1949 and moved to Upland the next year.

While residing in Upland (his wife still remains in the home they built together in 1959), Dr. Hess earned his master’s degree and PhD in education at Claremont Graduate School (now University). For many years, he was a teacher and principal in the Covina Valley Unified School District.

In 1975, Dr. Hess joined the Neonatal Education Program for the National Institutes of Health. The concept of neonatal intensive care units (NICU) was in its infancy, and Dr. Hess was one of 3 educators who developed self-instructional modules for caregivers in the NICU. At this time, most instruction in the medical field was transmitted by lecture—this was a new and effective technology, which won an award from the American Society for Training and Development. The modules were used worldwide, and the American Academy of Pediatrics combined 7 of them to form their first neonatal resuscitation program.

In 1978, Dr. Hess partnered with Ron Bloom, MD, a neonatologist with whom he had worked on the NIH project, to form Learning Design Associates. Dr. Hess served as vice president. Together, they developed innovative educational modules for the pharmaceutical industry, Kraft Foods and Miller Brewing Company. This was in the earliest days of the home computer, so their modules had to first be written in longhand and then typed on a typewriter.

After his wife, Dr. Hess’ lifelong love was music. In college, he was a member of a brass/vocal quartet, The King’s Envoys. He served as the choir director at the Upland United Methodist Church from 1950-69, where Ms. Hess was the organist.

During this time, he co-founded the Hand Bell Choir with Dr. and Ms. Earl Skewis and organized the annual Music Appreciation Sundays. He co–created the Christmas Yuletide program, featuring carols from all over the world. He loved to sing and was in the baritone section of the Claremont United Methodist Church choir and of the Louis Ronfeldt Chorale. He had great fun playing the trombone and, after retirement, became a member of the Chaffey Community Show Band.

Dr. Hess thrived on intellectual stimulation and was a member of the University Club of Claremont, for which he edited the bulletin. He was a member of Toastmasters and received several trophies in the “Tall Tales” and “Humor” categories. He was particularly fond of humor involving language and wordplay, and was an unabashed fan of Richard Lederer. Dr. Hess also loved comedians, particularly Jack Benny, The Smothers Brothers, Bill Cosby, Carol Burnett and Victor Borge, and would frequently double over with laughter, tears running down his face.

Always very interested in the world around him, Dr. Hess was perpetually engaged in a variety of activities including tennis, camping, gardening, enjoying the natural world, traveling and flying—as a teenager, he received his pilot’s license.

“He loved being up in planes. He just loved it,” said his daughter, Ms. Hess.

He was also fascinated by other cultures, particularly their music.

Dr. Hess cared deeply about the welfare of others and was an ardent proponent of social justice. He was active in establishing the Claremont United Methodist Church as a reconciling congregation, one that welcomed gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

“He was a wonderful friend and a deeply loving husband, father and grandfather,” said his daughter, Carla Hess. “He will be remembered for his warmth, humor, gentleness, integrity, intelligence, and for many atrocious puns. He was, quite simply, one of the kindest people ever to grace this earth.”

Ms. Hess also noted that, contrary to some people who conduct themselves in one manner publicly and quite another in their private lives, her father’s behavior was consistent in all circumstances.

Dr. Hess is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Mary Jane Hess; by his daughter, Carla Hess; by his son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Bobbie Hess; by his daughter and son-in-law, Louise and Greg Rosales; by his grandchildren, Danielle Hess, Megan Jacobs and her husband, Andy, Bailey Hess and her fiancé, Justin Huffman, and Sydney Hess; by his great-grandson, Ryan Jacobs; by his brother, Weaver Hess; and by many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Dr. Hess’ life will be held at 11 a.m., today, Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Claremont United Methodist Church, 211 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont.

Memorial donations may be made to the VNA and Hospice of Southern California: http://www.vnasocal.org/donate.htm.

The Hess family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to North San Antonio Senior Care of Upland and to the VNA and Hospice of Southern California for their outstanding care of Dr. Hess.