Bonamici recognizes longtime Seaside columnist

Columnist Claire Lovell was recognized by U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici in a speech the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Friday morning.

The recognition for the longtime Seaside Signal columnist comes after her death earlier this year at the age of 96. Her column, “Scene and Heard,” was a regular staple of the newspaper, first appearing in January 1990 and continuing up to the time of her death on March 15.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Claire Lovell, an accomplished columnist and devoted resident of Seaside, Oregon,” Bonamici said. “North Coast residents are richer for Claire’s presence and I join them in celebrating her life and her legacy. For 27 years, Claire’s column chronicled the happenings of Seaside with cogent prose and an observant eye. First known as ‘Overheard: Notes from Seaside,’ and later ‘Scene and Heard,’ her column was the first thing readers went to when they eagerly opened their newspaper. Indeed, some readers bought the newspaper just for her column. Claire was a Seaside resident for almost all of her 96 years and no one was better qualified to document the city’s life.

“Whether she was sharing her observation on politics popular culture, growing older or the birth of her first great-grandchild, Claire enriched each topic with her signature verve and keen love of the written word. In a recent column Claire wrote, whether one is 5 years old or 95 as the case may be, life’s small pleasures are very important. For decades, one of Seaside’s small pleasures was reading her column. It is my honor to recognize Claire Lovell’s many contributions to our community and to offer my condolences to her family and the Seaside community on the loss of this remarkable woman. Her wit, wisdom and well-chosen words will not be forgotten.”

Lovell was born in Seaside on Sept. 9, 1920, to Charles and Myrtle (Sawrey) Ruthrauff. The youngest of nine children, she attended Central School and Seaside Union High School, graduating as salutatorian with the Class of 1937, an honor she shared with close friend Evelyn (Stewart) Redkey.

Claire is survived by her children, Robin (Hill) Derringer (Stan Delgado) of Bremerton, Washington, Gary Hill (Connie Oksol) of Oakland, California, Jeffrey Hill (Nancy) and Lauren (Lovell) McMichaels (Rob), both of Eugene, Oregon; grandchildren, Aimee, Andra, Julia, David and Elena; and great-granddaughter, Emery. She was preceded in death by longtime friend and sweetheart, John Raniero.

A memorial celebration will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Seaside United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow.