Clifford Francis Keating

Dr. Clifford Francis Keating, age 70, died peacefully Thursday, March 28, 2019, surrounded by his family and the music he loved, Beloved Husband of Lorene (nee Ivory) Keating; loving father of Matthew (Jessica Zubiate-Beauchamp), Sean (Katie) Keating, and Mary Elizabeth Keating. Loving Grandfather of Collette, Fiona, Clara, Declan and Ronan Keating. Dear brother of Mary Leta McIntosh and Christopher W. Keating, and uncle of Katie Brayer (David), Christine, Cindy and Dean Keating. Cliff was predeceased by his parents, Frank C. and Lois M. Keating.

Clifford was a musician and educator, retiring in 2010 after 33 years of teaching elementary school band in the Jurupa Unified School District where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2010. He received the Veteran Teacher award in 2007 from the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and was a trumpet instructor at the Claremont Community School of Music for more than 40 years.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Clifford played trumpet in the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, where he was a member of the brass quintet. He performed with the Riverside, San Bernardino, and the Redlands Bowl symphony orchestras, and was a charter member of the International Trumpet Guild. He was a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington, IN, and Columbia University, New York, NY. In 1992 he received a Doctor of Education degree from the University of La Verne.

Clifford will be remembered for his dedication to teaching children, both professionally and as director of the children’s choir at his church. He loved model trains, entertaining, and all sorts of practical jokes. His humor, faith and dedication to his family and friends will be missed.

Services: Interment Friday, April 26, 9:30 a.m. at Riverside National Cemetery. Memorial service Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. at the La Verne Heights Presbyterian Church, 1040 Baseline Rd., La Verne, CA 91750. Contributions may be made to the Association for Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration( https://www.theaftd.org/support-aftds-mission/), the Claremont Community School of Music, (www.claremontmusic.org; 951 W Foothill Blvd Claremont, CA 91711) or La Verne Heights Presbyterian Church.