Gregory Andrew Toliver

January 28, 1952 - January 12, 2016

Gregory Andrew Toliver, a professor, writer and local activist, has died. He passed on January 12th at Pomona Valley Hospital after a three year battle with vascular dementia. He was sixty three years old. Gregory Toliver lived in the Inland Valley for thirty five years. He moved to the area in 1981 and worked as a professor of Liberal Arts at the Educational Programs in Corrections through The University of La Verne until 1989, when the program was terminated. As a teacher, Gregory inspired many prisoners to pursue their education. By doing so, he touched many lives and played an important role in lowering recidivism rates by record numbers. In later years, Gregory served as a charismatic and popular presence in Claremont where he was an active voice in local politics and a leader of the Occupy Claremont movement. When not passionately pursuing music, literature, history, and knowing just about everything there was to know, Gregory could be found at Claremont’s CK café where he and his good friend John Harrelson spent many of hours entertaining and educating just about anyone they came across. Gregory Toliver was born January 28th, 1952, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He survived by his three children Alicia, Michael and Pamela and his seven grandchildren Andrew, Naima, Hannah, Christopher, Brandon, Matthew and Tyler. Gregory was a long-time member of Christ Church Parish in Ontario. Funeral services will be held there on Saturday, January 16th, at 1 pm. All are welcome.

Michael Wurster

I knew Gregory originally as Lloyd Johnson. He was instrumental in founding, with myself and three others, Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange (ppepoets@yahoo.com). Lloyd/Gregory was a brilliant poet, fabulous raconteur, and wonderful friend. We stayed up talking many a night. I've missed him ever since he moved west and miss him now even more. Michael Wurster, Co-founder, Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange

Dr. Joseph A. Float, Jr.

Lost a dear friend this month. In our early 20's we were part of a three person folk group named Redemption. He was an incredible lyricist and I had the honor of arranging and at times composing music for his work. We found our way to the Bitter End in NYC, and enjoyed a degree of notoriety in Pittsburgh region in the mid 1970's. I never saw him after he left Pennsylvania in 1981, but I did speak to him frequently in the 90's and at one point when visiting our bandmate Richard Salsgiver in California in 1995, Salty and I almost made the trip from Fresno to LA to see him, but he would not receive us as visitors. Salty and I kept track best we could of him during last 20 years, but we never did connect in person. And then there were two of us left.

Richard Salsgiver

Gregory and I shared music in Pittsburgh PA in the early 70s. We had a group called "Redemption." Gregory wrote the lyrics and I wrote the music. Joe Float played bass and did the arranging and also wrote music. We played with John Hartford at the University of Pittsburgh and we played at the Bitter End in New York City. It was the most creativity time of my life. Gregory was brilliant and we spent many hours late into the night talking about philosophy, music, etc. I loved him very much. When I was in CA, I tried to get together with him many times but it never worked. I will miss him so very much. My condolences to his family who he loved very much. Dr. Richard O. Salsgiver, Professor Emeritus, CSU Fresno. Or to Gregory, Salty.