Anne Natale Damico: Beloved wife, educator, mother

Claremont resident Anne Damico died Wed, November 18th in Claremont. She was 89.

Anne Natale, the second child of Anthony and Mary Natale, was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. She spent her early life there and attended Chester High School, where she was a member of the cheerleading team. Upon high school graduation, she accepted a position as secretary to the principle of Smedley Junior High School. It was there Anne met her husband-to-be, Gabriel, who was a beginning teacher at the junior high.

The Damicos married in October 1951 and, as the story goes, the local school board played “cupid,” granting the couple a full month’s leave to begin their wonderful life together. Their marriage began with a honeymoon in Miami, Florida, and included a trip to pre-Castro Cuba.  

In 1963, Gabriel Damico accepted a position teaching science at Claremont High School. The family was off to a new life and a new experience in sunny California. Ms. Damico enrolled at Pomona College as an older student and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. She continued her studies at the Claremont Graduate University earning her master’s degree in English and a teaching credential, all this time being a wife and a mom to her two children. After graduating from CGU, Ms. Damico accepted a teaching position at Claremont High School.

Anne and her husband enjoyed travel and exploring the world. A lifelong learner, Ms. Damico’s educational pursuits were endless—she studied the works of Shakespeare at Oxford University in England, French language and culture at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and art and music at the Dante Alighieri Institute in Florence, Italy.

Ms. Damico taught for 18 years and, after retirement, knew her work wasn’t done. She became a volunteer at the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center working with cancer patients at the Cancer Center. She gave her time freely, asking nothing in return, knowing she gave new hope for those suffering with cancer, her family shared. She experienced a full and happy life. Anne made this earth a little more beautiful just by being there.

Anne Damico is survived by her husband, Gabriel, by her daughter, Denise Damico-Ivy, her son, Mark Damico and her son-in-law, Joe Ivy. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Devlin Damico-Ivy and Sophie Rose Damico.

In Anne’s honor, the family asks that donations be sent to The Alzheimer’s Association to support Alzheimer’s disease research and to write to your legislators to help wipe out this disease.