Member Profiles

Jay Foreman passed away after a brief illness on Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. He was born in Los Angeles in 1929 and, according to his mother, was a "born watchmaker." At the age of two, he took apart his first clock, but of course, it was several years before he put it back together. Jay began his watchmaking apprenticeship under his father in 1941, then mastered his clock-making skills under the instruction of T.H. Martin, a British Horological Institute Fellow. In 1955, following his return from serving in the U.S. Army in Korea, Jay established his own business, House of Clocks, in downtown Los Angeles. What began as a one man watch and clock repair shop eventually grew to employ 55 employees, providing factory watch service for many watch manufacturers and retail jewelers throughout the United States. Jay met Susan, the love of his life, in 1970. They married in 1973, and have worked side by side ever since. Shortly after having moved to Cambria in 1990, Jay and Susan opened "Once Upon a Tyme." Closing House of Clocks in 1997 allowed Jay to devote all his energies to clock and watch repairs at Once Upon a Tyme. He was at the bench right up to the end. Fortunately, over the past 17 years, Jay had taught Phillip Ehorn the trade so Jay''s Once Upon a Tyme legacy will continue. Jay was a Fellow of the British Horological Institute, Charter Member and Past Director of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute and a Member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. From 1972 to 1978, he served as President of the Horological Association of California, was the Horological Editor for the Pacific Goldsmith Magazine for 10 years and contributed to the J. Paul Getty Museum book, entitled CLOCKS. Over the years, he had been a featured speaker at various conventions and meetings, the most memorable was the Atmos Clock Program for horological students in Kyoto, Japan. Jay and Susan were avid collectors of watches, clocks and antique dolls. They also shared the thrill of automobile racing, both in Sports Car Club of America and historic racing events and brought home many awards, including the prestigious Pebble Beach Cup. Please join Susan for Jay''s Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the Community Presbyterian Church of Cambria, 2250 Yorkshire in Cambria. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.