The Santa Clarita Valley experienced a number of emotional deaths as community members, friends, family and colleagues passed away throughout the year.

Listed alphabetically are just some of the many members of the Santa Clarita Valley community who died in 2016.

Remo Belli, drumming icon and founder and CEO of locally-based Remo, Inc., died Apr. 26 of pneumonia.

Rod Bennett, Arroyo Seco Junior High band director, died on May 25 at age 53 after being stuck by a car while cycling. To help contribute to the Rod Bennett Scholarship Trust Fund, click here.

Retired U.S. Air Force industrial engineer Bob Bresnick, 67, died July 22 during the Sand Fire.

Steven Gail or “Mr. G.”

Former Hart High School student and Emmy-winner Kathleen “Kathy” Fortine died in February at age 56.

Steven Gail, otherwise known as “Mr. G.” or “the Singing Sub” to his many students, died after a five-year battle with cancer on Dec. 14. Donations for his family and medical expenses can be made here.

Santa Clarita resident Justin Rongstad and Tyler Hartman died after crashing their car on Bouquet Canyon Road in April.
Canyon Country resident Alfredo Jimenez-Lopez, 32, crashed his motorcycle driving on Angeles National Forest Highway and died from his injuries on Aug. 28.

Community leader and former Santa Clarita Valley Man of the Year Frank Kleeman died of congestive heart failure at age 82 on Feb. 5.

Photo of Brian Lewandowski, 18, of Santa Clarita.

COC student and Valencia resident Brian Lewandowski, 18, died Feb. 26 in a crash on the Interstate 5 freeway that also killed fellow COC classmate Michelle Littlefield, 19.

Maria Acevedo Lucatero, local chef and co-owner of Margarita’s Mexican Grill, was 57 when she died on Oct. 3.

Richard Raymond Nordland, a former Santa Clarita resident and U.S. Marine died in an Orange County motorcycle crash on Sept. 23 at age 26.

Christy O’Donnell, former LAPD sergeant, civil rights attorney and SCV mom died on Feb. 6 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Santa Clarita Emergency Medical Technician Chris Parry died in a fatal crash on Interstate 126 at age 35.

David Rickett, partner at the Valencia-based Reape-Rickett Law Firm, died of lung cancer Sept. 28.

Castaic resident Gary Ray Roberson, 28, died May 21 in a cliff jumping accident at Aztec Falls in San Bernardino County.

Sen. Sharon Runner

Loretta Rollins, a Santa Clarita Valley resident and realtor, succumbed to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) earlier this year.

Former state senator and Santa Clarita Valley representative Sharon Runner died July 14 at age 62.

Santa Clarita Valley resident and CPA Lloyd Sreden died July 27 at age 55 of pancreatic cancer.