Clare Hasenpusch Daum OBITUARY

Loretta Clare Hasenpusch Daum (Gammy) passed away peacefully in her home at The Reutlinger Community in Danville, CA on June 14, 2024 at the age of 87 years. Clare was known for her warmth, compassion, positivity and faith. She was the second of three girls (Annie Wittman and Jeanne Matle) born in Berkeley and raised in Crockett to Vera and Richard Hasenpusch (aka, Gran & Pop). She attended Carquinez Grammar School in Crockett and St. Vincent High School in Vallejo. She graduated in 1958 from Dominican College where she served as Student Body President and earned her teaching credential. It was in her first teaching job in San Anselmo that a parent of one of her students set her up on a blind date with a young Naval pilot who was studying at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. After only six dates Clare and Richard ("Dickie") Daum were married in July 1962 at St. Peter's Chapel on Mare Island. Clare's life would forever change.In 1963 the first of two sets of twins arrived with the births of Patty and Polly followed by Peggy and Ricky just 18 months later. Clare was a proud mother and often during her 52 years of marriage, would happily remind friends, family and anyone around her, "I have two sets of twins." However, Clare's life did not come without sacrifice. The Navy took Clare from the photogenic coast of Monterey to the humidity of central Florida. Clare often quoted, "If the Navy wanted your father to have a wife, they would have issued him one." These were challenging times having two sets of twins in diapers, a husband flying combat missions in Vietnam and some of her best friends' husbands being shot down or killed in the War. In some cases, Clare was the first person to communicate this tragic information to their wives. In 1973 with final orders to NAS Alameda, the Daum family left Key West returning to California and settled in Danville. Clare resumed teaching with a new job as a 4th Grade teacher at John Baldwin Elementary School. During her 28 years of teaching, she was the gold standard of what made a great teacher firm but loving and inspiring. She studied each child's personality and tailored her teaching to that child. The children adored her and many of the other teachers became lifetime friends. Clare is survived by her children Patty Harvey (Wayne); Polly Hackett (Tim); Peggy Mitchell (Tim); and Rick Daum (Shana). Her beloved grandchildren Will and Hannah Harvey; Shelby and Nick Hackett; Mandy Mitchell; and Eleanor and Grace Daum. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. In her retirement years, Clare continued to embrace life and experience significant quality through her many activities. She swam, traveled, sewed, painted, played Bridge, participated in Tai Chi (to the delight of her grandchildren), read, baked, shopped, followed the Giants, made jewelry, attended church regularly and was so proud of her Irish heritage. Her life was incredibly rich with family and friendships. A Celebration of Life Mass will take place on Friday, July 5 at 11 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc in San Ramon.