Very sad news from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Claudette Yamin, mother of singer Elliott Yamin, died last night. She was 65.
She had been hospitalized during the weekend at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital. Her cause of death was not released.
Last year, Claudette Yamin moved briefly to Los Angeles, but returned to the Richmond area in February.
“I went to see if I could rebuild my health,” she said in a February interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. (A broken hip had never fully mended.)
Fans remember Claudette from Season 5. She was featured as Elliott’s feisty and beloved mom. Elliott’s friend Brandon Crowe left this message on Elliott’s official fan site, Etrainstation:
The world lost a beautiful soul. I can’t go into any details at this time except to say that she went peacefully. Elliott wanted me to let you all know, but we are asking that you please respect the family’s privacy at this time. We are all aware of your prayers, and we thank you. In lieu of sending flowers, we ask that donations be sent to the local chapter of the Richmond JDRF. Thanks again for all your support and prayers..it’s helped us through the day.
Thoughts and prayers going out right now to Elliott, his friends and family…
ETA: After the Jump: Elliott’s Bad Day video from his elimination. Claudette is featured prominently
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Our loss is Heaven’s gain… good bye sweet, sweet lady.
May her soul rest in peace and may Elliott and the rest of Claudette’s family and loved ones find strength and comfort where they may.
May God hold you in the palm of his hand, Claudette and give strength to Elliott and the rest of your family. You were a class act.
What sad news first thing this morning! I’m so sorry to hear it. :(
I am thankful she went very peacefully. Poor Elliott. I’ll keep him and any other family in my thoughts/prayers.
God bless, Claudette and family. May you find peace and strength when needed. Elliott, I hope you are soothed by knowing that your mother got to see you following your dream.
Wow, prayers and hugs going out to Elliott and his family.
His mom was such a joyous sight to behold as she watched America fall in love with her son.
Thank you Momma Yamin for raising such a wonderful son. Your legacy will live on everytime Elliott gets on the stage to sing.
Poor Elliott. He must be feeling the loss, he was so close to Caludette. She was such a good cheerleader for him.
The best star mom evah!!
thoughts and prayers going out to elliott and family
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with the Yamin family.
My heart goes out to Elliott and family. The world has lost a beautiful and vital spirit and what every mother should aspire to be. Keepin’ you in my prayers…
That’s so sad. She’s one of the few parents of an idol that I remember. She seemed like such a sweet but strong lady.
One of my greatest pleasures of watching Season 5 was to see Claudette in the audience and the pride she had for her son. She was soooo happy for him….every time she cried with happiness, I did the same. Lu is right, Heaven has a wonderful gift today with her presence. I will keep Elliott and his family in my thoughts! Pix
This is very sad news for losing a loved one is a great loss that always lingers in part of the heart for a long time. A peom I wrote after the loss of someone whom I lost too young can only thing to say”The beams from heaven after the rain reach from the sky downward to earth to bring the loved ones up. The rain has deminished but the crying has not as looking upward wondering why now .”
Elliott no words can equate what your are going through .
Thoughts & prayers with the Yamin family at this difficult time…
Claudette was one of the best parents that’s ever been on the show…you could just tell how truly proud she was of her son and how much she loved him.
Thank you, Claudette, for sharing your son with us.
Sad shocking news this morning.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Awww…I’m tearing up. Having lost my mom a little too early as well, I can just imagine how Elliott is feeling. I loved watching his mom in the convertable during his hometown parade segment. I’m so glad she lived to see her son’s dream come true. He’s done quite well for himself, even without “winning” that season. He’s a tender soul with loads of talent and I’m just glad she was able to share that journey with him.
Elliott and his mom in the Bad Day video was the most heartwarming thing I’ve ever seen on Idol. Rest in peace, Claudette.
i remember elliot talking about how is mom was sick coming into the show..thats super depressing. i wonder what her condition was, id be interested in finding out.
My condolences go out to Elliott and his family. His mom was so proud of him on the show (and he showed so much affection for her on the show as well), I can only imagine how that had grown as she watched his career blossoming. I can’t begin to imagine how he is feeling, but hope he takes the time he needs and continues to make his mom proud. She was such a vivacious little lady! She’ll be smiling down upon him forever…..
Oh, I am so sad. Elliott and his mom were so close. She helped make Season 5 so special.
The greatest gift Elliott gave his mother was her son’s love. The second was that she was able to live long enough to see his journey reach this penultimate goal.
She was able to enjoy the gift of his beautiful voice bringing both of them the joy in life they wanted.
As he mourns her loss, he needs to also celebrate how much of his life, and success in it, he was able to share with her.
So sad. Claudette was a joy to watch on season 5. She was so proud of Elliott. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Yamin family.
Elliott and Claudette (go to the 1:27 mark of the clip)
Sad, sad news. Thoughts and hugs to Elliott, his family and friends.
I’m so sad about this. Just recently I watched Elliott’s homecoming top 3 night and I got so choked up, again, watching Claudette there. What a lovely woman she was. My thoughts and prayers are with Eliiott.
Season 5 would not have been the best without Claudette. Her relationship with Elliott was so heartwarming and one of the reasons we all fell in love with Elliott.
My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends who knew her.
I know Elliott and his family are broken today, but they will carry her with her in their hearts and spirits forever.
Warm hugs to Elliott and his family.
Thank you for adding that video, mj, even if watching it made me tear up again…
So sorry for your loss, Elliott. Your mom was one of the bright spots of season 5—thank you for sharing her with us. ((((Hugs))))
She is just another reason season 5 was so great. I’m so glad that she got to see Elliott succeed and share in his joy for a bit.
Aw. Poor Elliot. I’m sure his heart is broken.
He really IS one of the best male vocalists AI has ever had.
Lovable guy!
God Bless Elliott and his family.
His mom was such a great lady.
I loved watching her rooting for her son and being so supportive. I hope Elliott is doing well. I can’t believe this happened.
If anyone is interested in making a donation, here’s the address. I was touched when my daughter called me at work to tell me that she’s emptying her piggybank to send in a donation. It still seems so hard to believe. I had just seen her a couple of weeks ago. I’m sad. :(
JDRF
3805 Cutshaw Ave
Suite 212
Richmond, Virginia 23230
**Indicate that your donation is in memoriam for Claudette Yamin.**
Thanks, Lu. And condolences to the Yamin family. Very sad news.
I’m sure Elliott’s amazing journey gave her health a big temporary lift. She was really ill while he was trying out. How wonderful that she got to share that incredible journey with her son and see him be successful. And giant props for AI for allowing her to share it with him.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a tribute to Claudette on the show this week, maybe on the results show.
So very sorry to hear this sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with Elliott, his family and friends. Claudette was LOVE. She will be missed.
The post message above I have no words to comfort that loss but I was wondering abou someone else who not a family member or direct friend but a kind hearted one at that.(sue me its corny). So Lu how are you doing?
This is so sad…. I feel so bad for Elliott and his family. I never got to meet Claudette, but everyone says that she was an amazing person. :(
Cats,
You are so sweet to ask. It’s been a tough day. It’s all over our local news. Believe it or not, I had a few crying sessions with some co-wrokers today. We were forunate enough to get to know Claudette. She was the real deal - no pretenses and just as sweet and kind as her son. It’s nice to come here and read all these wonderful comments.
One of my favorite moments during season five was watching Claudette in Elliott’s homecoming parade. How proud she was of her son! I am so happy she was able to witness his success and know that he is set in his career. I’m sure she worried about him early on and had to have found peace in knowing that he would be all right. Still, it’s a huge loss for Elliott as I know they were very close. So very sad.
my condolences elliott.
We little knew that morning
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly.
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
You did not go alone;
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories,
Your love is still our guide;
And though we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again. We Love you Elliott
Claudette Goldberg Yamin
YAMIN, Claudette Goldberg, 65, of Richmond, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2008. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mickey and Bernice Goldberg. She is survived by two devoted sons, Elliott of Richmond and Los Angeles, Calif., and Scott of Richmond; one loving daughter and son-in-law, Jodi and Chris Queen of Encinitas, Calif.; two grandchildren, Sophia and Jedediah Queen; one brother, Eugene Goldberg and his partner, Mark Bloom, of Pompano Beach, Fla.; and a host of beloved family members. A retired mortgage broker and synagogue director, she gave enthusiastically of her time to the community, and in 2004, was honored by Jewish Family Services as their Volunteer of the Year. In the last two years of her life, she joined her son, Elliott, in the struggle to cure juvenile diabetes. The lives of those touched by her unique wit and zest for life will be eternally brightened. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday (today) at Bliley’s-Central, 3801 Augusta Ave. The interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to either Jewish Family Services, 6718 Patterson Ave., Richmond, Va. 23226, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 3805 Cutshaw Ave., Richmond, Va. 23230.
Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 4/2/2008.
http://www.legacy.com/TimesDispatch/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=106779367