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 advocate for Claremont students. “Sam understood the importance of public service. In my opinion he was the model for the phrase, ‘service above self,’” said CUSD Superintendent Jim Elsasser.
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 and wonder of the world around her. Even as a very young child she would comment on the beauty of the sun’s rays emanating from beyond the clouds. As a child, she loved dinosaurs, archeology and Egyptian history.
Loving wife, mother, grandmother, musician, community volunteer
Ann Louise (Ritchey) Gray died peacefully with her husband and children at her side in Claremont on June 26, after a series of recent health setbacks.
She was born on May 22, 1937 in Emporium, Pennsylvania to Clarence LaVelle and Helen (Gundy) Ritchey. After World War II she moved to Bayside, Long Island, New York and then to Scotia, New York, where she worked with her family in operating a small neighborhood movie theater, restaurant, Laundromat and beauty salon.
George Aki, former US Army chaplain, retired minister, and longtime Claremont resident died July 4. He was 103 years old.
Mr. Aki was born in Livingston, California on September 11, 1914 and was raised in Fresno. He became the first non-white civil servant in that city and later attended Fresno State College (now California State University, Fresno). After graduation, he enrolled at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley.
James Graham Jr. (Jim) died peacefully at his Claremont home on May 26.
Jim was born on August 28, 1952 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a resident of Claremont since 1962, graduating from Claremont High School in 1970 where he played trumpet in the Wolfpack marching band.
Great grandmother, longtime Claremont resident, volunteer, realtor
Jane Hinckley Johnson, a Claremont resident and Pomona College faculty wife from 1950 to 1976, died from natural causes at her assisted living home in Eugene, Oregon on April 17, nearly a month after turning 90.
Loving husband, singer, traveler, citizen of the world
Kenneth E. Hunter, a resident of Claremont for 51 years, died May 20 at Mt. San Antonio Gardens at 86 years of age after years of struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
Beloved husband, father and friend
Longtime Claremont resident Gail Jerome Frampton died the night of June 4, with his family by his side. He was 90.
Gail was born December 3, 1927 in Ocean Falls, British Columbia, Canada, to Charlie and Grace Frampton, and moved to Pomona shortly thereafter. It was in Pomona that he spent his formative years with his beloved siblings, Keith, Mary Ann, John and Gary.
