Roger Blaine Humes, a longtime staff member in the College of Engineering and a published poet, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 61.
Humes was born in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1952 and graduated from Central Lee High School before attending Cal Poly Pomona, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. Humes married Cynthia Ann Smith in 1985, and the couple subsequently lived in Iowa City, Iowa; Uttar Pradesh, India; and later Claremont.
Humes worked as a systems analyst in the College of Engineering for 15 years but had many other duties, serving as both the college’s webmaster and as art director for the college’s magazine, Xpressions of Xcellence.
His interest in the arts extended beyond graphic design, as well. He wrote music, played guitar and percussion, published six books of poetry and sometimes served as guest editor of Harvest International, a nationally distributed, student-run anthology published by Cal Poly Pomona’s Department of English and Foreign Languages. In 2004 he created the Other Voices International Project, which collects poetry from authors across the world and curates it online.
He was also actively involved in The American Institute for Progressive Democracy, a Claremont-based organization that promotes democracy, social justice, economic opportunity and peace.
He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; his daughter, Margaret Rita Rose Humes; and his son, Mackenzie Blaine Humes.
A memorial service was held for Humes on July 5 at the Monte Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Montclair. His family has asked that donations be made in his name to either the Monte Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 9185 Monte Vista Ave., Montclair, or The American Institute for Progressive Democracy (TAIPD), 2058 North Mills Ave., Claremont, CA 91711.