The Gardens owes much of its appeal to the diversity and vitality of our residents, people who bring a wealth of life experiences to this community and who share an interest in pursuing an active, vibrant lifestyle. Get to know some of our residents and read about their life at the Gardens on the pages of our newsletter, The New Leaf.
Mt. San Antonio Gardens, fondly known as “The Gardens”, is a national recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) CCRC Life Plan Community located in Claremont / Pomona in Southern California.
Congregational Homes, Inc.
dba Mt. San Antonio Gardens
900 E. Harrison Avenue
Pomona, California 91767
1-909-624-5061
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Bill Wells (Resident) graduated from Stanford University, and initially volunteered to serve with the Peace Corps. He was part of the first group to go to Korea, where he taught high school lab science in Pusan. He later worked at Seoul National University to introduce a lab-oriented science curriculum in Seoul middle schools. After returning to Los Angeles, he earned his law degree from USC School of Law, and practiced corporate law for 25 years. Additionally, he became an investor and director of a venture capital fund in Palo Alto.
Jan Bush (Resident) was raised in Upland and attended Pomona College. She earned her Family & Community Living degree from LSU (Louisiana State University). She went on to earn her master’s degree in environmental planning from Arizona State University. She worked in that field for many years, primarily in watershed and land conservation. She has served as Chair of the Gardens Conservation & Sustainability Committee. Jan’s grandfather and his wife lived at the Gardens for several years.
Tim Sandoval, the current Mayor of the City of Pomona, was raised in Pomona. After graduating from the University of California, Riverside, he returned to Pomona becoming active in community while teaching English at a nearby school. He became the founding member of Bright Prospect, a mentoring organization that has helped more than two thousand low-income youth become first generation college graduates. In 2016 he was elected Mayor, garnering 63% of the vote. In 2020 he was re-elected by a similar overwhelming margin. In addition to being Mayor he is involved in many local organizations.
Nicole Weekes is a Professor of Neuroscience and Psychological Science at Pomona College. In addition to her core teaching, mentoring and scholarship, Dr. Weekes has also served as an administrator and consultant with extensive experience in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and both the neuroscience and practice of stress management techniques. She co-created an academic science cohort program for students and extensive programming for both science and nonscience student groups. Her involvement with faculty includes her role as Associate Dean and Diversity Officer for the Faculty. Dr. Weekes is also a scholar of the neuroscience of stress as well as a licensed yoga instructor and meditator.
Camille Lee was raised in Claremont and received her Bachelor of Science, Business Administration degree from California State University, Long Beach. Followed by an Executive Master of Business Administration from Scandinavian Management Institute in Copenhagen. She attended several executive leadership programs at Harvard, Wharton & IMD (International Institute for Management Development). She spent most of her career in the pharmaceutical industry in Sales, Marketing & Commercial leadership which took her to Denmark, Belgium, Germany & Switzerland. She is currently managing US business for Belgium bio-technology company UCB (a global pharmaceutical company).
Camille’s parents are Bob & Claire Lee, residents here at the Gardens.
Jill Grigsby spent most of her childhood in Florida moving to the Boston area for her last two years of high school. She has an undergraduate degree in Applied Math from Brown University and two graduate degrees, a Master of Arts and a PhD in Sociology and Demography from Princeton University. Since earning her PhD most of her career has been spent at Pomona College where she retired in 2021. Her research & teaching have emphasized family planning, aging over the life course, health & mortality, pets & family. She has lived in Claremont for over 40 years and has been active in several local organizations.
Michael Strange earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from M.I.T. He has held a number of technical and leadership positions throughout his career which included responsibility for large budgets. He is currently the Vice President of Information Technology for Boston Scientific, a large medical device manufacturer. Mike is married with four children and two grandchildren. He enjoys many outdoor activities, including golf, as well as spending time with family and friends.
Neil Gerard is a returning member to the MSAG Board of Directors. Neil was educated in New York and has held positions in higher education with Cal Poly Pomona and Pomona College, including serving as Associate Dean of Students. He has been actively engaged in community programs and is currently serving as President of the Upland Community Foundation, Executive Officer of Upland Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and serves on the Board of Trustees of Temple Beth Israel (Pomona). Neil has been married for 53 years. He and his wife have two children and five grandchildren. Neil’s interests include golf, fishing, gourmet cooking, and travel.
Lise Abrams is both an alumna and faculty member at Pomona College, where she is the Peter W. Stanley Chair of Linguistics and Cognitive Science since 2018. Her research focuses on cognitive aging, specifically the causes underlying real-world retrieval problems in younger and older adults, including tip-of-the-tongue states and difficulties retrieving proper names. She is also an Associate Editor for the journal Psychology and Aging. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Joslyn Senior Center and strolls through the California Botanic Gardens.
Ginger Elliott moved to the Gardens in 2022. She is a long-time resident having moved to Claremont 44 years ago. Ginger earned her bachelor’s degree in History from Regis College and master’s degree in History from Boston College. Ginger served as the Assistant Dean for the University of Michigan, worked as the registrar for the University of La Verne Law School, was the Admissions Counselor at Pomona College, and served as the Executive Director for Claremont Heritage. Ginger’s daughter is also a local resident. Ginger enjoys book clubs, auditing courses at the Claremont Colleges, and attending concerts at the L.A. Philharmonic. She is a volunteer supporter of the League of Women Voters and the Safe and Healthy Committee for the City of Claremont. Ginger served on the MSAG Board of Directors in the 1990s.
Mary Jean Neault joined the board in 2023 and serves on the Strategic Planning and Marketing Committees. Mary Jean retired in 2021 from her position as V.P. for Marketing and Community Outreach at Mt. San Antonio Gardens. Her association with MSAG began in 2005 when her mother became a resident. Mary Jean earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Scripps College in Claremont. Her professional background includes positions at Our Lady of Assumption Church, Los Angeles County Superior Court, and Claremont McKenna College. She is currently associated with the Inland Communities Organizing Network (ICON) and serves on the Institutional Review Board at Claremont Graduate University. Mary Jean’s previous community involvement includes Claremont Interfaith Council, the Rotary Club of Claremont, David & Margaret Youth & Family Services, as well as serving as the House of Ruth Board President. She and her husband, Mike Sutton, have lived in Pomona for many years. They have two children and one grandchild.
Michelle Stoddard earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal Poly Pomona and a Master of Science in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne. She has served in the non-profit sector for over 30 years in higher education and healthcare. Michelle was raised in La Verne and is a long-time Claremont resident. She has served the community in various ways over the years including Kiwaniannes, PFA, Lions Club, Community Senior Services, Casa Colina Auxiliary, Covina Rotary, and currently, Upland Rotary. She has two daughters, a son-in-law, two wonderful grandsons, and lots of extended family who live locally. Michelle enjoys reading, gardening, and spending lots of time with family & friends.
James Spera received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Ramapo College of New Jersey. He then received an Associates Degree in Nursing from Santa Monica College. He became a Registered Professional Nurse in California and New York, with certifications M Critical Care, Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (BLS/ACLS) and received his license to practice nursing in 2000. James began his career in nursing at AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Sub-Acute Care Facility in Los Angeles as well as Clinical Care Coordinator at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City in Interventional Pathology. His passions include theatre and music as well as a love of the sciences, especially biology. psychology and astronomy.
Mary Ann Quay is a CPA, and is currently on the Gardens waiting list to eventually become a resident. She spent much of her career at Vicente Lloyd Stutzman Public Accounting, has been on the board of University of LaVerne, Glendora Chamber of Commerce, and the Estate Planning Council of Pomona Valley.
John Harpole is a senior consultant with Spencer Stuart Leadership Advisory Services, in NYC, working primarily in executive recruitment and C-suite succession at both for-profit and not-for-profit institutions. Prior to this, he spent 20 years in private capital advisory and investment consulting. He has served as a trustee with a wide variety of organizations throughout the country, and is currently a trustee and chair of the Finance Committee at Foothill Country Day School. He is married to Gabrielle Starr, the president of Pomona College.
Tomas Summers Sandoval is associate professor at Pomona College, where he holds a joint appointment in the History Department and the Intercollegiate Department of Chicano/a-LatMo/a Studies. Tomas’ research interests revolve around the history of Latinos in the United States, with a particular emphasis on California and the Southwest. He has been awarded the “Wig Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence on Teaching” in both 2009 and 2014, and has a particular interest in creating partnerships between “Town and Gown.”
Ryan Zimmerman is a Claremont native and top-producing real estate agent with Wheeler Steffen Sotheby’s Intl. Realty. He graduated from all Claremont schools K-12 and attended Cal Poly Pomona where he obtained a degree in Finance, Real Estate & Law. He is a past board member of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, the past Chair of Claremont Young Professionals, is a current board member of the Claremont Museum of Art, and regularly coaches Claremont soccer.
Robin Aspinall served as Vice President for Business and Administration and Treasurer at Claremont McKenna College from 2002-2019. Prior to that, she served at Pomona College from 1985-2002. “Post- retirement”, she assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles, with the plan to fully retire in January 2022. Robin also serves as Chair of the Planning Commission for the City of Upland.
Peter Yao has resided in Claremont for over 60 years. He worked for the Hughes Aircraft Company / Raytheon Systems Company for 35 years and retired as the Director of Research and Development. Peter graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and has earned masters’ degrees in electrical engineering, business administration, and management science. He served two terms on the Claremont City Council including two years as Mayor and is currently serving as a member of the California Citizens’ Redistricting Commission, having drawn 177 political district maps for State Assembly, State Senate, and US Congress. Peter is happily married to Linda, his wife of 47 years. with whom he has one son, Richard, who lives in Sacramento.
Michael Vestino currently holds the positions of Vice President at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and Adjunct Professor in the Master of Health Administration program at the University of La Verne. His duties at PVHMC include executive responsibility for master planning, capital budgeting, supply chain, Food and Nutrition Services, Plant Operations, Environmental Services, Biomedical Engineering, Security Services, Environmental Safety/Emergency Preparedness, Project Management and Property Management.
Lee Goldstein, OD, MPA, practiced Optometry in Claremont/Pomona for 40 years. He is a graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Optometry (1966) and USC School of Public Administration (1970, Health Services) and maintains a current Optometry License. Lee previously served on the Mt. San Antonio Gardens Board of Directors from 1985-1991 and as Chair of the Health Committee from 1986-1991. Some of Lee’s volunteer service has included: the Claremont Planning Commission, PVHMC and Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundations, American Red Cross (State Chair and member of National Board of Governors), California State Board of Optometry, Rotary Clubs of Claremont and Visalia, California Optometric Association, Sequoia Parks Conservancy (founding member), and moderator of the Three Rivers Town Hall. Lee and his wife, Marcia, have been married for 56 years and have 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Marcia is also a former member of the Gardens Board and served Claremont as Community Services Director. Together, they enjoy gardening, native plants, and travel. Lee and Marcia lived at “Goldstein Ranch” Three Rivers, CA from 2006-2018 and now reside in Laguna Woods.
John Whiting (Resident) had a long career with IBM, including the role of President of IBM Indonesia. During that period, he became President of the Tata/IBM Joint Venture that returned IBM to India in 1993. He and his wife, Judy, moved to India, living both in Mumbai (Bombay) and Bangalore for five years. More recently, as the Area Chair of the D Building, John was instrumental in helping the move of every resident from the building go as smoothly as possible.
Jim Tranquada joined the board in 2017. He serves as co-chair of the Strategic Planning/Futures Committee. A native of Los Angeles, Jim earned a BA in history from Stanford University. After working as a newspaper reporter, he embarked on a second career in public relations. Jim serves as the Director of Communications at Occidental College. He has served for 13 years as a board member of Solheim Lutheran Home in Los Angeles and is the co-author of The Ukulele: A History. He and his wife have one son. Jim is the son of Bob and Jan Tranquada, residents of Mt. San Antonio Gardens.
Evelyn Diaz Brown (Resident) earned a Master’s of Public Administration and subsequently was selected as a Presidential Management Intern with the U.S, Department of Justice. She then worked for the DOJ for 21 years as the Court Administrator for the Immigration Court in Los Angeles. Evelyn has been an active volunteer in the Claremont community, including as a member and educator for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). She has also been a volunteer with the American Red Cross, in particular with disaster response.
Eleanor Brown is a Professor of Economics at Pomona College, where she has taught since 1986. She is a microeconomist who focuses on resource allocation in the absence of profit-maximizing behavior, through private philanthropy, volunteer labor, nonprofit organizations and within the family. Her father, Bob Brown, lived at the Gardens for many years. She has previously served on the boards of House of Ruth and Pilgrim Place.
Daljinder Takhar, DO, is a Family Medicine Specialist with a focus on geriatric medicine and is associated with Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. He serves as Medical Director for several skilled nursing facilities in the region, including MSAG. Dr. Takhar has been instrumental in the Gardens’ response to Covid, including vaccine protocols and infection control practices.
David Menefee-Libey has been a Professor of Politics at Pomona College since 1989. He has won the Wig Distinguished Teaching Award 6 times, chaired the Politics Department, and served as coordinator of the Program in Public Policy Analysis. He has been a commentator at KPCC, and has co-authored a number of books, articles, and reports on education policy with Chuck Kerchner. He is active at Claremont Presbyterian Church and has been involved with the Napier Council at Pilgrim Place since 2011.
Daryl Smith (Resident) is Professor Emerita of Education and Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. She joined CGU as a faculty member after years of serving as a college administrator in planning and research and student affairs. She came to Claremont from New York, first as an Assistant Dean at Pomona College, and then as Dean of Students at Scripps College. Following her time as Dean, she served as VP for Planning and Research at Scripps and Professor of Psychology. She has served as an evaluator and consultant to numerous projects, professional associations, foundations and universities across the country.
Cindy Sullivan is an active community volunteer having served on the boards of the Claremont Community Foundation, House of Ruth, Claremont After-School Programs (CLASP), Curtain Raisers, and the City of Claremont Committee on Aging and Claremont Excursions. She was named the 2019 “Honored Citizen” for the Claremont 4th of luly Parade and has been honored by the Claremont Senior Program with the Over & Above Award and the losephine Smith Award. In 2010, the Rotary Foundation of Claremont named Cindy a Paul Harris Fellow. Cindy taught in Edina, Minnesota and Winchester, Massachusetts before becoming office administrator of Patrick Sullivan Associates, a 34-year-old architectural firm with offices in San Luis Obispo and Claremont that closed in 2011 after the passing of her husband. Cindy has two sons who live with their wives in Nashville and Altadena.
Betsy Crighton joined the Gardens Board in 2020 and serves on the Finance Committee. Betsy moved to Claremont in 1975 when she joined the faculty of Pomona College and has lived there since then. Cre research and teaching centered on European politics and the olitics of gender, ethnicity, and nationalism. Betsy also served Pomona College as an Associate Dean of the College and, many years later, as Vice President for Academic Affairs before retiring in 17. She enjoys an active retirement. When she is not traveling, she takes voice lessons and sings in the Pomona College Choir. She volunteers with CLASP (Claremont After School Program), serves on the board of Randolph College in Virginia, and spends as much time as possible with family and friends.
Becca Feeney-Kurtz and her husband Rob Kurtz have lived at the Gardens since 2015. Becca earned a bachelors degree at Cal State Fullerton, and a masters degree from University of LaVerne. She taught English and journalism at Claremont High School for nearly 20 years, where she mentored new teachers in the completion of their teaching credential programs. Becca was the faculty adviser to the award-winning student newspaper. The Wolfpacket, for nine years. Both of Becca’s adult children are teachers. She and Rob have four grandchildren. At the Gardens, she is active in the Library and other resident committees. Becca serves on the Marketing. Community Outreach, and Admissions Advisory Committee.
Arlene Andrew has spent much of her career in city planning and historic preservation. She was a Senior Planner for the City of La Verne and a Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Arlene has been on the Claremont Planning Commission, and the Greater Pomona Housing Development Corporation, and is currently a board member of the Claremont Committee on Aging. She has been a board member of many additional organizations: League of Women Voters, California Preservation Foundation, House of Ruth, Claremont Heritage, and Claremont Wildlands Conservancy, among them.
Kathy Pezdek is Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences, at Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Pezdek is a cognitive psychologist specializing in the study of eyewitness memory, and frequently serves as an expert witness in the area of eyewitness identification. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Society, has served as Editor of Applied Cognitive Psychology, and is currently on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Applied Psychology and Legal and Criminological Psychology.
Diane Stielstra (Resident), is the incoming President of the Gardens Council, the resident governing body. After obtaining her PhD in English Literature, she taught for eight years at Franklin College, a small liberal arts school in Indiana. With a later move to Seattle, Diane reinvented herself as a technical writer and editor, first as a freelancer and subsequently at Microsoft, where she spent 12 years before retiring.
Conrad Maas and his wife, Doreen, have been Gardens residents since 2011 Conrad attended USC and graduated with a degree in Accounting. While in college and after graduation. Conrad worked for Arthur Young & Co. in downtown Los Angeles. During that time, he took the CPA examination, accrued the required two years of practical experience, and earned his CPA license. In 1964, Conrad left Arthur Young & Co. to join the regional CPA firm, Hutchinson and Bloodgood in Glendale, California. He spent 24 years with the firm, becoming managing partner before leaving in 1988 to join a client of 9 years, The Hartwell Corporation in Placentia, California, as CFO. Transitioning from public accounting to working for a privately held company gave Conrad the opportunity to travel internationally, learn about the aerospace business, and attend airshows in London, Australia, and France. Since moving to the Gardens. Conrad has been an active member of the Gardens Club serving as both the Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer.
Henry Ford joined the Gardens Board in 2019 and also serves on the Budget and Finance Committee of the Board. He is Principal and Senior Advisor for LifeSteps Financial, a financial planning and investment advisory firm. Individuals and employers look for his advice and entrust the management and oversight of their wealth to him. Prior to establishing the firm (originally as Foothill Financial) in 2010. Henry was a financial advisor with ID Waterhouse and, subsequently with Citigroup, where he led one of the highest performing teams in the nation. A Southern California native, Henry attended the University of Riverside and University of Southern California. He is active in the Claremont community and a member of ProVisors, a community of trusted professional advisors. Outside of the office. Henry is known for his love of adventure. From motor bike racing competition and travel to attending a sneak peak of the latest in men’s fashion, he enjoys living life. His family is his passion, especially seeing his daughters follow in his motor cross racing and fashion footsteps. Henry and his wife of 25 years, Diane and their two daughters live in Rancho Cucamonga.
Jed Leano is an immigration attorney and a Claremont City Council member. He serves as Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust Board, Vice Chair of Tri-City Mental Health Board, and is Claremont’s representative to the SGV Council of Governments Homelessness Committee. He has served as President of the Pasadena Jaycees (where his law practice is located) and as National Legal Counsel for the United States Jaycees.
Leslie Negritto joined the Board in 2020 and serves on the Investment and Audit Committees. Leslie grew up in Southern California and earned a BA in International Relations from Pomona College and a MA in International Business from the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UCSD. Leslie is currently the Vice President for Finance and Administration/Treasurer at Claremont Graduate University. Previously, she was the Administrative Dean at the Drucker School of Management and a Senior Consultant with Andersen Consulting (Accenture). She is currently on the board of House of Ruth and was a board member and treasurer of the Claremont Educational Foundation for 10 years. She has three sons and lives with her husband in Claremont.
Jay O’Neal is a retired Gift Planning Officer at the City of Hope Medical Center. A graduate of California State University Long Beach, Jay managed trust estates and probate matters through the Trust and Financial Services Department at Security Pacific Bank prior to working at the City of Hope Jay is active with his local church and enjoys trivia, music, sports, and travel. In addition to a number of other volunteer commitments, he is currently a member of the Fund Development Committee at the Gardens. Jay resides in Glendora with his family.
Jeff Stark joined the Board in 2019 and serves on the Investment Committee of the Board. He is a Principal and co-founder of Fukagawa Stark and Associates, a wealth management firm located in Claremont Jeff has been in the financial services industry since 1986, and is a Registered Principal, Investment Advisor, and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary. Born and raised in Claremont, Jeff earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Over the years, he has served on many Boards including, Trustee of the Claremont Unified School District, Claremont Community Foundation, Claremont Senior Foundation, Lan Angeles County Fair Association, Foothill Country Day School, Claremont Educational Foundation, and the Claremont United Church of Christ. He is married to his wife Christine and has three adult children. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors. Frequent activities include: surfing, cycling, and golf. Jeff’s parents are happy residents of the Gardens.
