For 75 years, Claremont Manor has been building on a community established by generosity. The Claremont Manor dedication ceremonies took place April 30, 1949 on 10 acres of land donated by prominent Claremont citrus rancher Lee Pitzer. He and his wife Blanche were among Claremont Manor’s earliest residents — “49ers”, as they called themselves.
For most of its first 50 years, Claremont Manor was part of the non-profit Pacific Homes, but in 1998, just before its 50th anniversary, the organization merged with California Lutheran Homes and FACT Retirement Services, both also non-profits, to become part of what is now Front Porch Communities and Services.
For its 75th anniversary celebrations this year, Claremont Manor opened a time capsule that was created in 1999 for the 50th anniversary. The capsule, which has been displayed in the library for the past 25 years, included a letter from Marty McGaughy, the community’s executive director in 1999. Along with sharing contemporary news and technology, McGaughy reflected on the community’s ongoing culture of philanthropy. The Manor’s current Executive Director Robert Barton read the letter aloud to the community at the time capsule opening event, held on April 30, 2024 — the same date as the dedication ceremonies 75 years previously.
“We have recalled to memory the lives of numerous individuals who have invested their funds and energies to fulfill the vision of creating this wonderful community,” the letter reads. “A consistent theme has been that of the Manor residents as very special people committed to being good neighbors to one another. My firm belief is that when this time capsule is opened many years hence, that same theme will still ring true.”
The community’s commitment to generosity lives on in Claremont Manor’s annual Philanthropy Week. Held each summer, Philanthropy Week includes an array of events and activities ranging from golf putting competitions to dog fashion shows and, this year, ended with a gala dinner in support of the Foundation’s Circle of Friends resident assistance fund. Claremont resident David Kane donated a brand-new mobility scooter to be raffled off in support of the cause.
Keith Church, the Foundation’s philanthropy officer serving Claremont, has a long history with the community, making his work there even more special. When he first started working with Front Porch’s Southern California communities, Keith’s family stayed at Claremont Manor while searching for housing. “We fell in love with the community. My oldest son has described it as ‘having 100 grandparents.’ We felt like we were welcomed into a large and very special family that took a very genuine interest in our lives. While I now live a short drive from Claremont Manor — we fell in love with the foothills too and decided to stay — I still see the residents and staff as one big family every time I visit the campus.”
From its very first days, Claremont Manor residents, family, staff and friends have thought about the future needs of the community and the people who might live there, and that consideration drives its generous spirit. From the founder who donated the land upon which the community stands to the residents today who contribute to support the community and its current and future residents, the theme of neighbors being good to one another continues to ring true.
Originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of Community Matters
