Robert "Tony" Claar's Obituary
In loving memory of Tony Claar, who, at 74, unexpectedly left us on December 10, 2023.
Tony's journey began at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, CA, and continued through San Francisco State University. His passion for animation was awarded with a Fulbright scholarship, taking him to Zagreb-Film in former Yugoslavia, now Croatia. After returning to the U.S., Tony invigorated the animation world through his excellent work at the top-notch studios such as Disney and Colossal.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Tony taught animation classes in several colleges in the Bay Area. For the last 10 years, he taught at the Graphic Arts Department at Laney College in Oakland. His dedication to teaching and mentoring was truly unparalleled. Tony found joy in nurturing creativity and was immensely proud of his students' achievements.
For over fifty years, Tony found solace in the practice of Buddhism with the Bay Area SGI community, embodying principles of compassion and mindfulness that enriched the lives of those around him.
A testament to his boundless creativity, Tony continued working on his original animated films. Recently, his films earned top honors and honorable mentions at film festivals in Belgrade, India Wales and Macedonia. His passion for art did not end with animation, he drew, painted and created whimsical greeting cards. Sadly, the tapestry of his imagination was woven short, leaving an enduring void felt by those touched by his enthusiasm, humor, kindness, and affection.
As we come to terms with this profound loss, details of the memorial service will be shared at a later date, allowing us to join together in remembering and celebrating the extraordinary life of Tony Claar.
Grieving wife Liliana Claar, brother Peter, sister Susan, families Belinger, Momirski, Jurleka, Gjorek, Gasparovic and Von Conta, Tony’s friends, students and SGI family.
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