Aug 14, 1963 - Dec 19, 2018

Kevin Dean Kearney: Adventurer, animal lover, horologist, ham radio enthusiast.

Claremont resident Kevin Dean Kearney died December 19 at the age of 55. 

The son of James Dean and Joyce Inez Kearney, he was born at Pomona Valley Hospital the morning of August 14, 1963. The first year of his life he lived in a cabin at the trout ponds of Mt. Baldy Village. Space was limited there, so he moved with his family to Foreman Street in Upland, where he lived until he was nine years old. He attended Valencia Elementary School until April of 1973, when he moved with his family to Claremont and transferred to Vista del Valle Elementary. From there he attended El Roble Intermediate School and Claremont High School.

After high school, he lived an adventurous life with such escapades as exploring the Calico mines, living for 10 days in Amsterdam once in 1988 and again in 1990, working on a crab boat in Seattle and on a maintenance crew in Yosemite’s Curry Village. He also worked with his parents at New Dimension Auto Concern until it closed, then with a firm that tested asbestos-exposed workers and with a medical supply store in Glendora before accepting a position as manager at Bonita Terrace in Claremont. He worked there until his death. 

His interests were as eclectic as his taste in music and included ham radio, metallurgy, rare elements, ufology, archeology and an imaginary realm he called Tangentia. He loved animals of all species, except snakes, and had an uncanny affinity for them that was well noted among his family and friends.

He and his fiancée Traci McCanne were married on July 23, 2001.

During his lifetime he was fascinated by timepieces of all kinds and had a large collection of watches. He had acquired a great knowledge of medical conditions and medicines. He also took great joy in his extensive collection of element samples.

At the urging of his sister Kimberley, already a licensed amateur radio operator, Mr. Kearney studied for and passed the Technician Class Amateur Radio License Test and was issued his FCC radio call sign of KK6GUY on October 17, 2013. His sister was impressed with the appropriate call sign he was issued. When an amateur radio operator dies, they are referred to as SK or Silent Key.

He is survived by his wife Traci; her mother, Gini McCanne; his sister, Kimberley George and her husband Larry; nephew Gabriel; and both of his parents.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made or a rescue animal adopted from any animal shelter.

A viewing will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, January 4 at Todd Memorial Chapel, 325 N. Indian Hill Blvd, Claremont. A service will follow at 6 p.m.