University Club of Claremont

University Club scholarship recipient Carlos receives his Mt. SAC award from David and Anne!

Mark your calendar for Tuesday June 23rd Club luncheon! Public invited and just $25. Doubletree Hotel at 11:30, lunch served at 12:00 noon.

“NASA's Europa Clipper Mission: Ambitious Science and Engineering Challenges”

Speaker: Leo Bister, Jet Propulsion Lab, retired engineer

Leo spent 43 years helping to turn ambitious ideas into spacecraft that explore the solar system. After earning his Electrical Engineering degree from Cal Poly Pomona in 1982, he joined JPL and never looked back—contributing to
missions that have expanded humanity’s understanding of planets, oceans, and distant worlds. From Saturn’s rings on
Cassini to Martian soil with Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance rovers, and most recently the journey to
Europa, his work has helped carry science millions of miles from Earth.

Much of his career was hands-on at the sharp end of exploration—assembly, test, and launch operations—often traveling to Florida to see missions through their final steps into space. Along the way, he balanced a full life at home: 44
years of marriage to his wife, Rosie, three children, and four grandchildren. Now retired, he’s shifting his focus closer to
home—running, biking, traveling, and giving back through local volunteering.

University Club Claremont High Scholarship Winners receive awards from Scholarship Chair Donna Bernard

Anthony Rubio Avila and Triana Maldonado Ocampo are our 2026 Richard Kirkendall scholarship winners.

Thanks to the generous donations of the University Club of Claremont members, they each received a $2500 scholarship at a ceremony on June 9, 2026.

Another good club program. Sonja Stump presented a report on safer bike lanes and celebrating 100 years of Route 66.

Public invited! Luncheon program Tuesday June 9, 2026

"Traffic and Transportation Commission and Route 66 Anniversary"

Speaker: Sonja Stump, chair of Traffic and Transportation Commission and owner of Sonja Stump Photography

Sonja Stump is a Claremont businessperson who has served the community in many ways. She is currently chair of the City of Claremont Traffic and Transportation Commission. She has served on many community organizations including Claremont Heritage, Claremont Chamber of Commerce, Claremont High School PFA, and Claremont Meals of Wheels.

A graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Sonja has been a photographer for 48 years, specializing in photos of Claremont. Her community honors include Grand Marshal in the Claremont 4th of July with husband Bob in 2025.

Sycamore Room, Doubletree Inn, 555 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont
11:30 am: social • 12:00 pm: lunch • 1:00 pm: speaker
Lunch $25 (subsidized by the Club)

Our own David and Anne celebrate a family graduation

An excellent May 26th club program and turnout to hear resident perspectives on living in Pilgrim Place, Hillcrest, Claremont Manor, and Mt. San Antonio Gardens.

Public invited to the U Club's Tuesday May 26th luncheon program, “Eldercare Experiences in the Claremont Area”
at the Doubletree. Just $25 for lunch and program. Join us for a lively discussion!

Speakers: Gus Boesch, Rita Dixon, Charleen Krueger, and Jack Mills.
Speakers who live at four eldercare facilities will talk about why they made the choice to move there and how it has been going. On our panel are residents from Hillcrest, Claremont Manor, Pilgrim Place, and Mt. San Antonio Gardens. This will be a personal and informative session (no sales reps!). If you’re considering making residence decisions, or you know anybody who’s considering making residence decisions, this is the meeting for you.

Doubletree Inn (Sycamore Room), Claremont
11:30 am: social time * 12:00 noon: lunch * 12:45 pm: speaker
Meeting fee is $25 (subsidized by the Club) for members and guests, and includes lunch

Fun and informative May 12th club gathering as Don Gould reviewed the multifaceted challenges of investing in turbulent times.

Public invited. Join our May 12th luncheon program at the Doubletree. "Investing in These Turbulent Times"

Speaker: Don Gould, president and chief investment officer, Gould Asset Management

We are honored to have a financial expert give his analysis of the current economic market. Bring your questions about investments!

Don Gould is the president and chief investment officer of Gould Asset Management, which he founded in 1999. He holds a BA in Economics from Pomona College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has served for many years as a visiting lecturer in portfolio management at the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance at Claremont McKenna College and an adjunct professor of finance at the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at the Claremont Graduate University. Don is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Pitzer College, former president of both the Pomona College Alumni Association and the Rotary Club of Claremont, and has served on numerous non-profit boards.

Sycamore Room, Doubletree Inn, 555 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont
11:30 am: social • 12:00 pm: lunch • 1:00 pm: speaker
Lunch $25 (subsidized by the Club)