Claire Evelyn Arnold Hodgin

1932 - 2014

Claire Evelyn Arnold Hodgin
8/30/32 - 7/17/14
Resident of Scotts Valley
Claire passed away July 17, quietly in her sleep. A gifted singer and actress, in her teens, she starred in musical events and theater productions, performing at many weddings and events. Then on to the University of California, Santa Barbara where she sang, performed in plays. Cast opposite her future husband, it was instant antipathy! She graduated with a degree in Speech. UCSB honored Claire as the "Outstanding Performer" her senior year and with the university wide "Cal Key". After graduation Claire married David T. Hodgin. Claire returned to UCSB for graduate work obtaining credentials in Speech Correction and Secondary Education, and then established the first speech correction program for the County of Santa Barbara.
After military service Dave moved Claire and the growing family to Arizona; Buenos Aires, Argentina; New York City; Bogota, Colombia; Toledo, Ohio and Concord, California. In 1977 the family purchased the Holiday Host Travel Park and moved to Scotts Valley to handle daily operations. Included was an historic dairy barn which Claire soon turned into the Holiday Barn Dinner Theater, producing six new Broadway musical per year. Whenever receipts declined, Claire starred in shows like "Mame" and "Hello, Dolly!" drawing big audiences and restoring theater finances.
Claire dreamed of a horse ranch featuring the Paso Fino horse she had found in Colombia. Her 50th birthday present was two paso finos, which led to the purchase of a 42 acre breeding and training facility north of Watsonville and a band of 50 "Pasos". This dream was fulfilled as she travelled the U.S. and abroad, purchasing, selling and showing her horses. While at the ranch Claire continued performing and joined the Pajaro Valley Arts Council where, as President, she negotiated a permanent home for their art gallery.
In 1999, the family moved back to Scotts Valley where they had maintained a business. Claire's most recent performances were with Cabrillo Stage in The Full Monty, where she received a standing ovation and with Elf Empire at the Trout Farm, her final public performance with her "clone", daughter Lizz. Claire long dreamed of an "Arts Corridor" along Scotts Valley Drive. After years of effort you can now see painted control boxes throughout town and the first outdoor sculpture in the median strip of the Drive. She also conceived the idea and promoted creation of "Murals in a Day", 3 of which you can view thanks to the efforts of Scotts Valley Artisans. Another passion was the creation of a Community Performing Arts Center for Scotts Valley. Claire raised the first seed money and helped form a community group to develop the theater. At her death she also was serving as President of the Scott Valley Arts Commission and the Montevalle Woman's Club, as well as Corporate Secretary and Board Member for the Pathfinder Companies and for MusicalMe, Inc.
Claire wore whatever hat her family needed; chef, teacher, doctor, office manager, artist, social director, etc. She had many dreams: to marry; have children; perform; sing; have her own theater; her own horse ranch; promote public art; etc. She achieved them all. Family remaining include: husband Dave; daughter Kate, her husband Scott Halversen and children Audrey, Hank & Sarah; daughter Lizz and her son Daniel; granddaughter Alli Wilkinson. Son David Arnold Hodgin and daughter Amanda Claudia Hodgin Wilkinson Boyd passed before her.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 30th, 1 PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 220 Elk Street, Santa Cruz. Friends are invited to share a memory and/or a song during the luncheon & reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations may be made to "MCL, Claire Hodgin Community Theater Fund", Box 66438, Scotts Valley, CA 95067-6438 . For further information: 831-438-1000.