John Shear is gone but never forgotten at Santa Anita Park. Retired Paddock Captain John Shear died Tuesday at a rehabilitation facility in Arcadia. He was 102 years old.
Obituary/death notice. Santa Anita Park's iconic shoeshine attendant since opening day, December 25, 1934, Eddie Logan, has died. He was a former boxer and Negro League baseball player. He called himself a "footman" and worked at Santa Anita Park for almost 75 years.
Obituary/death notice. Victor Vener, Cal Phil and Pasadena Pops founder, dies at 78. Vener brought outdoor concerts to the Santa Anita Park Race Track, The Arboretum, Descanso Gardens, Rose Bowl, and others.
Obituary/death notice. Radio personality and singer Veeva "Suzy" Hamblen has died at the age of 101, in Santa Clarita, California. She and husband Stuart Hamblen (died 1989), also a radio entertainer, had a ranch in Arcadia for many years and were known as some of the leading trainers at Santa Anita Race Track in the late 1940s. Stuart and Veeva rode their Peruvian Paso horses in the Rose Parade from 1979 to 1989. Veeva was also famous as a gospel songwriter.