Pete J. Nelson died peacefully on January 1, 2020, cradled by his wife, Judith Favor.
He had refused food since fracturing his spine on December 20. Under the care of VNA Hospice and Palliative Care of Southern California, “Pete grasped death with tenacious fortitude after having suffered the diminishments of Parkinson’s Disease,” his family shared. He was 82 years old.
Nature enthusiast, loving mother, lifetime Claremont resident
Sydney Jean Hill, a lifetime resident of Claremont, died Friday, November 29, after a long battle with cancer. She was 51.
Sydney was born April 1, 1968 at Pomona Valley Hospital. She is the youngest of three children born to Mike and Bobbie Hill, longtime Claremont residents.
Teacher, tireless volunteer, Claremont Honored Citizen
Rita Wodinsky died December 23, 2019, at the age of 94 and-a-half, in her home, with her family by her side.
Born in Jamaica, New York on June 8, 1925, to Joseph and Bessie Bernstein, Rita graduated from Jamaica High School in 1940, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Queens College in 1944.
“It is with deep shock and sadness that we share the news that Lamont (Monty) Hempel, the University of Redlands’ Hedco Chair in Environmental Studies and Director of the Center for Environmental Studies, died December 4, following a brief illness. He was 69 years old,” read a statement from the university. “We have lost a pillar of the environmental community, a towering intellect, and a kind and gentle friend,” a colleague said.
A much beloved figure in Claremont, he was a renowned musician, songwriter, photographer, record producer and artist, who in 1966 co-founded the groundbreaking group Kaleidoscope with Claremonter David Lindley. Look for more information on memorial services as news develops.
Beloved father, husband, aerospace industry retiree
Paul Francoeur, 73, died December 23, 2019 at Pomona Valley Hospital surrounded by family.
Paul was born March 15, 1946 in Chandler, Quebec, Canada. He made his career at Bombardier Aerospace in Montreal, where he served as vice president of contracts, retiring as vice president of customer service.
Decorated Vietnam veteran, sports fan, devoted husband, father
Peter Charles Love, devoted husband and father, died January 4 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 74.
Peter was born in Potomac, Maryland to the late Dr. Julian and Mina Love. He grew up and went to school in Arcadia, California. He graduated from San Diego State University.
Teacher, author, women’s history activist
Tess Henry died in the early morning hours of 2020 on New Year’s Day, at home with family. She was 87.
Esther Jen Turnbull was born to Ralph Turnbull and Anne Lundin Turnbull on February 26, 1932 in Jarrow-on-Tyne, England, to a Scottish father and an American born mother who was the daughter of Swedish immigrants. As a young girl, she became Tess and was known by that name the rest of her life.
Longtime Claremont resident Helen-Jeanne Munter died peacefully in her sleep on December 20, 2019, in the loving arms and hands of all of her children and most of her grandchildren. She was 92 years old.
Mrs. Munter was much beloved by her family and many friends—who repeatedly noted that she was loving, empathetic, and tolerant; patient, calm, and unflappable.
Tess Henry died in the early morning hours of 2020 on New Year's Day, at home with family. She was 87.
Esther Jen Turnbull was born to Ralph Turnbull and Anne Lundin Turnbull on February 26, 1932 in Jarrow-on-Tyne, England, to a Scottish father and an American born mother who was the daughter of Swedish immigrants. As a young girl, she became Tess and was known by that name the rest of her life.
Phil Elderkin, for many years a nationally syndicated columnist for the Christian Science Monitor and The Sporting News, died December 21 at the age of 93.
Mr. Elderkin, who consistently took readers where their tickets would never admit them, began his writing career with the Monitor in 1943. His first byline outside the Monitor was in the August 1947 issue of Baseball Digest.
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