Santa Clarita Notable Deaths Remembered In 2013 Obituaries

Posted by: KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 in Santa Clarita News December 30, 2013 - 12:28 pm 0 362 Views

While the end of the year is a time to reflect on the positive moments of 2013, it is also a time to remember those we lost.

From a young girl who went missing, to a man trying to save his girlfriend’s life and a tragic crash involving a famous actor, the following is a list of just some of the people we lost this year.

d. Jan. 1

Sarah Alarid, 19, was reported missing after attending New Year’s Eve gathering at a friend’s house. More than 150 people, including deputies on the ground and in helicopters, searched for Alarid in the days after her disappearance. Her body was found near her vehicle several days later. “It appears that Miss Alarid was ejected from the vehicle,” said Lt. Dave Dolson of the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau. “All indications are at this time that there was no foul play involved.” To read the full coverage.

d. Nov. 8

Anthony Guy “Tony” Marincola was a Purple Heart recipient of the 17th Airborne Division in World War II and a Santa Clarita Valley military event supporter. Tony was President of the 17th Airborne Association in 1961-1962 and was a very stable and dedicated trooper. He died at the age of 96. His wife of 73 years, Genevieve, died on Aug. 15.

d. Nov. 8

Nicole Hoffman, 19, and Robert Corona, 25, were both Santa Clarita residents who died in a crash on the 14 highway while leaving town for a weekend trip with family members. Their vehicle was strucktwice while making a u-turn, the second time occurring after Robert had exited the vehicle to help Nicole. “Robert died that night trying to save my sister,” said Brittany Lauren Reph, Hoffman’s older sister. “The love of his life, and my sister, was pronounced brain dead (Sunday), but she will be saving eight different people with her organs because she was a donor.” Hoffman and Corona had been dating for some time and were described as happy people whose main goal was to always laugh. Read the full obituary.

d. Nov. 10

Roger Presgrove founded the Santa Clarita based charity Help the Children, a nonprofit Christian humanitarian relief organization dedicated to alleviating the suffering of children and their families. Over the past two decades, Help the Children and other nonprofit organizations Presgrove has helmed have shipped more than $900 million in relief aid to people in 12 states and 52 countries around the world. Presgrove died after a long battle with skin cancer. He was 56. Read the full obituary.

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d. Nov. 20

Nick Longshore was a Canyon High football star who was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served a church mission in the Philippines from 2000-02. He died from injuries sustained in an ATV accident. He was 32. “Nick was just a humble, gentle giant, who everybody loved,” said longtime family friend Greg Crow. “He was just that type of young man, an Eagle Scout and the boy next door, and you’d never hear anyone say anything negative about him.” Read the full obituary.

d. Nov. 30

Hollywood actor Paul Walker was best known for his part in the “Fast and the Furious” franchise movies. Walker is said to have referred to himself as an outdoorsman, ocean addict, and adrenaline junkie who did some acting on the side. Walker owned Always Evolving, a high performance race car shop in Valencia, ranging from race cars to luxury cars. In 2010 he created Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW), which consists of skilled volunteers who respond to disasters by assisting with resources and other necessities and assistance. Walker was the passenger in a single vehicle crash that killed himself and driver, friend and racing partner Roger Rodas. He was 40.

Read the full obituary.

d. Nov. 30

Roger Rodas was a highly respected wealth adviser who worked for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch for more than 20 years. He also had a passion for racing and was the CEO of Always Evolving, a high-end car shop owned by actor Paul Walker. He participated in many charities, having one of his own in support of widows and orphans in El Salvador, supported Asomugha Foundation, a charity that helps disadvantaged American youth and underprivileged children and widows in Africa, and assisted Walker with the financial structure of Walker’s Reach Out WorldWide nonprofit organization. Rodas was the driver of a single vehicle crash in Santa Clarita that killed himself and Walker. Rodas was 38. Read the full obituary.

d. Dec. 8

Christopher Anthony “Tony” Rasmussen was born in Lancaster and raised in Newhall. After graduating Hart High, where he ran cross country, he became a restaurant manager and continued to spend his time snow skiing and with family. His sister Lauren said, “Tony was the best big brother anyone could ask for. He made friends everywhere he went and was the life of the party. He lived life to the fullest and there was never a person he met who didn’t become his friend.” He died at 39.

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Here are other deaths in the Santa Clarita Valley community:

–Heather Warrick, Feb. 1

–Dirk Fischer, Feb. 25

–Hiram “Hi” Heaton Swallow, March 7 – courtesy of SCVHistory.com

–Brittany Schlumpberger, May 1

–Gene Folke Broman, June 22 – courtesy of SCVHistory.com

–Frederick “Ted” Murdock Bryant, June 23 – courtesy of SCVHistory.com

–Emily Hobson, July 18

–Rudolph R. Will Jr., July 19 – courtesy of SCVHistory.com

–Constance Arlene “Connie” Anderson, Aug. 2 – courtesy of SCVHistory.com

–Sean Thomas Smalstig, Aug. 28 – courtesy of SCVHistory.com