header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
November 26
1916 - A score of Wobblies bust up Newhall Jail after commandeering SP freight train [story]
Wobblies logo


toddnohrenbergA homeless man who was found dead in his car Saturday night in the Centre Pointe Wal-Mart parking lot in Santa Clarita is being remembered as an active member of the community who helped his church.

Todd Bradley Nohrenberg, a 50-year-old Caucasian man, was found in his car in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart located on Carl Boyer Drive, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

Nohrenberg did not have a listed address leading investigators to believe he was homeless, said Investigator Betsy Magdaleno with the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

Nohrenberg was believed to be living out of his vehicle and passed due to existing medical conditions, said Sgt. Tim Vander Leek with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

In 2011 and 2012, Nohrenberg was a client at Bridge to Home and was in a program known as “Families to Home,” for about a year, which tries to get people into housing, said Connie Murray, the case manager at Bridge to Home.

“He was a very caring, generous and gentle man who always worried about others,” said Murray. “He wanted to help people.”

Nohrenberg was an active member of the Church on the Way Santa Clarita located on Cinema Drive.

Gary Howse, the congregational care pastor at the Church On The Way Santa Clarita, knew Nohrenberg and was around him “quite a bit.”

Nohrenberg was a member at the church and was very actively involved in a variety of ways, according to Howse.

“He was very well known and loved throughout the church,” said Howse.

Nohrenberg helped around the church and was good at fixing things, Howse said.

“He was very actively involved with other people,” said Howse. “He helped people with problems and he helped people move or set things up.”

Nohrenberg had several health problems, but Bridge to Home got him into medical services and took care of the problems he had, said Tim Davis, the executive director at Bridge to Home.

Nohrenberg was in the hospital approximately six weeks ago and had been in the hospital “at least four times” in the past, said Howse.

“People were surprised and shocked (when they heard about his passing),” said Howse. “He had physical problems, one with his heart. Many people did not know, he wouldn’t tell you unless you asked.”

The Church on the Way Santa Clarita will hold a service for Nohrenberg on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 30 p.m.

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

60 Comments

  1. Mary Guzman says:

    I’m gonna miss him…. such a nice caring man.. always joyful to help me out with a smile. Still can’t believe his gone

    • How come no one helped him?

    • Brandi Howse says:

      I don’t think many people if any knew he was homeless. I saw him at church all the time I didn’t know and never would have guessed :(

    • Mary Guzman says:

      Randi L. Peethree this is really choking for many. Many didn’t know he was homeless… i personally would have done soemthing since my husband i and really liked him.. but i don’t see him telling his life to others neither will people be asking for his or others personal life. I wouldn’t assume anything if you see a man always with a huge smile, really well groomed and clean everytime you see him. Let’s not assume or start questioning the why’s? ? We are to easy to judge, jump into conclusion and point fingers
      At others…. blessings

    • Ok this may come out wrong and it if does I apologize ahead of time . I am currently in a situation with a family member who by choice was homeless , he was always in a suit actually and very intellectual man well groomed , no one knew he was homeless or that he had been sleeping in his car for 2yrs . Whn I finally found out I said why don’t you find a part time job , a steady income, we can find u a job, he said No because he rather his “freedom” and also said he wouldn’t ask anyone for help bc he was “better thn that” . This family member got very ill and ended up at a shelter but my point is that sometimes they burn their bridges and family members who once trusted them they just can’t trust them anymore for whatever reasons . It’s easy to point fingers and say “why don’t you help him ” or why didn’t you do something ” the best one is “if I were his friend or family member I would do this and that” . Things are easier said thn done . So let’s not judge te church or those around this man who I’m almost positive helped him at a point . may he rest in peace now and now it’s between him and God .

    • Mary Guzman says:

      Well said Patricia Hairston

  2. I worked with him many years ago at Curtis, this is so sad! What a nice person he was.

  3. Militza de R says:

    How sad people who help the community, don’t receive any help from the community ?

  4. Sounds like he did a lot for the church. What did the church do for him? It doesn’t say anything in this article about anything except how caring and giving he was. Living out of a car with a medical condition and the sweltering heat we have had..very sad.

  5. Junior Munoz says:

    I bet his church won’t even cover his funeral arrangements

  6. My thoughts exactly. So helpful yet no place to call home??

  7. I vote that we refrain from jumping to conclusions about what his church did or did not do to help. We don’t know if the church was aware of his situation. Some people don’t want others to know their circumstances. Let’s keep the focus on the sad loss of a man who gave even in light of difficult conditions.

  8. Todd my heart is broken ?. You always gave a smile to everyone. We already miss you a lot….??

  9. Josh Shannon says:

    Very sad know one should have to live that way! RIP

  10. This is why we need to have compassion and take of each other.

  11. We should demand answers as to why he was living in his car when I know for a fact there are non-Americans being subsidized and put up in apartments.they are also Getting food and this man gets nothing but applause for being patient,kind and helpful. Something is very wrong with that picture. I hope his death helps other homeless american men and women in this city. Then maybe he will be remembered as helping the forgotten homeless AMERICANS inSanta Clarita!!

  12. God bless Mr. Nohrenberg. RIP.

  13. Need year round Bridge To Home. Tragic

  14. My goodness, I saw him twice a week at church and had absolutely no idea he was homeless. I am so shocked, saddened & confused by this…..

  15. Bless his dear heart?, sleep well Mr. Todd! Talk about perspective?. Love you tribe!

  16. He will be missed. But he is in a much better place. Thank you Todd for the person you were. We saw Jesus in you.

  17. Brandi Howse says:

    He was such a good man always helping at church so sad!! He will really be missed. I never knew he was homeless.

  18. Tank Franz says:

    God bless him, we need to have more compassion for others & stop this local bad habit of pointing the finger & blaming everyone else for everything that’s wrong here in Santa Clarita, so many people in this world are just trying to make it. Many of us need to appreciate the good fortune we have.

  19. Dolly Wood says:

    He was a great friend you were loved Todd and will be missed dearly. R.i.p with the angels

  20. Sad that in the wealthiest Country in the world we still have homelessness and do nothing

  21. Shirley says:

    RIP.

  22. Ok this may come out wrong and if it does I apologize ahead of time . I am currently in a situation with a family member who by choice was homeless , he was always in a suit actually , very intellectual man ,well groomed .No one knew he was homeless or that he had been sleeping in his car for 2yrs . Whn I finally found out I said why don’t you find a part time job , a steady income, we can find u a job, he said No because he rather his “freedom” and also said he wouldn’t ask anyone for help bc he was “better thn that” . This family member got very ill and ended up at a shelter. my point is that sometimes they burn their bridges and family members who once trusted them they just can’t trust them anymore for whatever reasons . It’s easy to point fingers and say “why don’t you help him ” or why didn’t you do something ” the best one is “if I were his friend or family member I would do this and that” . Things are easier said thn done . So let’s not judge the church or those around this man who I’m almost positive helped him at a point in his life . May he rest in peace , now it’s between him and God .

  23. Amanda Llewellyn says:

    I know people at this church and they are very much a family. If you don’t tell people that you are in trouble and you don’t look like you are in trouble, then why would people assume that you needed help? My guess is that very few people knew what was really going on and if he had been in a program to combat homelessness at one point and yet still after a year didn’t get a place to live, there may have been other issues that you or anyone reading this article would not know. I was homeless for nearly two and half years and NO ONE knew what we went through because you don’t always put that out there. It makes people uncomfortable when they can’t or won’t help you. Trust me on this. YOU THINK that you would help but, you probably wouldn’t. I imagine that if that church, as a body knew, he never would have spent one night alone in his car.

  24. RIP Mr Todd Nohrenberg ?
    I did not know you but, from what I have been reading you were well liked and seemed very compassionate and giving of yourself! Give give give and obviously never asked to take!

  25. I know there are lots of questions. I have lots of questions too, about why my only and little brother was homeless. Questions are good. Judgement is set aside only for The Almighty. If you’re not God, then you may want to settle for questions instead of Judgement.

    What’s important here is that Todd was indeed a good man, and had issues that he was unable to resolve. Instead of Judging the man, or those who “could have helped”, remember that sometimes a man’s self-respect won’t allow a good man like Todd to ask for help sometimes. That’s how many of you didn’t know he was homeless.

    What you can know is that Todd was an “A” student in elementary school, a Bus Driver for 5 years, a Cement Truck Driver and Trainer for 15 years, a Radio Disc-Jockey for a couple years, and a father and grandfather.

    What you can also know is that his theology and world view were more than a bit confused until he found that church up there. Those good folks turned a good man like Todd into their “Paul”. Many will not know what I mean. That church up there were the branches that produced and produced well. That church up there was a mechanism for God to answer my daily prayers that Todd be surrounded by those who love him and that he loves, and that God changes his heart and saves his soul.

    We all fall short and all have problems. That’s why we need God.

    Todd was baptized at that church and loved the people there. He wanted just to be loved and to help. He didn’t want people to pity him or stress over him. He was a giving man… and his soul was saved.

    Try not to Judge.

    God is Good!

    – Guy Nohrenberg

  26. Joseph K says:

    Much praise to Congregation Care Pastor Gary Howse. “The Church On The Way SC” for holding such a profound memorial service. -Joseph K

  27. Joseph K says:

    Praise to Guy Nohrenberg:

    @”What you can also know is that his theology and world view were more than a bit confused until he found that church up there. Those good folks turned a good man like Todd into their “Paul”. Many will not know what I mean. That church up there were the branches that produced and produced well. That church up there was a mechanism for God to answer my daily prayers that Todd be surrounded by those who love him and that he loves, and that God changes his heart and saves his soul.
    We all fall short and all have problems. That’s why we need God.
    Todd was baptized at that church and loved the people there. He wanted just to be loved and to help. He didn’t want people to pity him or stress over him. He was a giving man… and his soul was saved.”
    ————
    Thanks for this, Guy – hopefully the story brings many more people to the Lord.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Nov 25, 2024
City Emphasizes Pedestrian Safety on Orchard Village Road
As part of Santa Clarita’s ongoing commitment to public safety, small dividers will be installed on Orchard Village Road in the coming weeks.
Monday, Nov 25, 2024
COC Named 2024 Champion for Excellence in Placement in Black Math Success
The Campaign for College Opportunity has named College of the Canyons a 2024 Champion for Excellence in Placement in Black Math Success.
Monday, Nov 25, 2024
Dec. 9: Valencia Community Center Grand Opening
The city of Santa Clarita will host the grand opening of the Valencia Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. at the center at 26147 McBean Parkway in Valencia.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1916 - A score of Wobblies bust up Newhall Jail after commandeering SP freight train [story]
Wobblies logo
As part of Santa Clarita’s ongoing commitment to public safety, small dividers will be installed on Orchard Village Road in the coming weeks.
City Emphasizes Pedestrian Safety on Orchard Village Road
The Campaign for College Opportunity has named College of the Canyons a 2024 Champion for Excellence in Placement in Black Math Success.
COC Named 2024 Champion for Excellence in Placement in Black Math Success
The city of Santa Clarita will host the grand opening of the Valencia Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. at the center at 26147 McBean Parkway in Valencia.
Dec. 9: Valencia Community Center Grand Opening
Join a community discussion on retail theft Monday, Dec. 16 from 4-5:30 p.m. featuring California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, Assemblymember Rick Zbur and a panel of industry experts.
Dec. 16: Community Conversation on Retail Theft with Pilar Schiavo
All For Kids is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
Dec. 19: All For Kids Virtual Orientations on Foster Care and Adoption
As millions of motorists gear up for travel, the California Highway Patrol is gearing up, too. Starting at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and running through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1, the CHP will activate its annual Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement Period.
Nov. 27-Dec. 1: CHP Maximum Enforcement Period
The 4th Annual Newhall Holiday Marketplace will take place 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 at the Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market St., Newhall CA, 91321.
Dec. 8:  Newhall Holiday Marketplace
College of the Canyons will enter the postseason as the No. 12 seed in the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Southern California Regional Playoffs.
No. 12 Canyons Women’s Volleyball to Begin 3C2A SoCal Regionals
The Thanksgiving holiday is all about gratitude. Being thankful for what we have and all the blessings we have in our lives.
Ken Striplin | Thankful for Our Nonprofits
For the first time in The Master's University athletics history, a team has won the NAIA national championship. The women's cross country team finished ahead of Taylor University by one point to win the NAIA women's cross country national championship Friday, Nov. 22, at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo.
TMU Women’s Cross Country Wins National Championship, Men Fourth
The California Department of Public Health is warning the public to avoid consuming one batch of cream top, whole raw milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County due to a detection of bird flu virus in a retail sample.
Raw Milk Recall Due to Bird Flu Virus
The Acton Agua Dulce Arts Council will host the "Winner’s Circle Art Show" at the Acton Agua Dulce Public Library, starting Saturday, Jan. 11-Saturday, Feb. 22.
‘Winners Circle Art Show’ at Acton Agua Dulce Library
1875 - Vasquez lieutenant Clodoveo Chavez reportedly killed by bounty hunters in Arizona Territory [story]
Clodoveo Chavez story
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk has reported that there are less than 20,000 ballots remaining to be counted in the Los Angeles County area.
Election ’24 Recap: Less Than 20,000 Votes Remain to be Tallied in County
2003 - Ruth Newhall, longtime co-owner/editor of The Signal, dies in Berkeley [story]
Ruth Newhall
1931 - Fall Roundup held at Hoot Gibson's Saugus Rodeo [story]
Hoot Gibson's 1931 Saugus Rodeo
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Awards + Installation event on Friday, Jan. 31 at the Hyatt Regency.
Jan. 31: SCV Chamber Awards + Installation Early Bird Tickets
The Valley Industry Assoction will host a Cocktails & Conversation event with Cameron Smyth on Thursday, Dec. 12, 5:30=7:30 p.m. at Margarita’s Mexican Grill, 23320 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355.
Dec. 12: Cocktails & Conversation with Cameron Smyth
Following an extensive search, the Governing Board of the William S. Hart Union High School District has unanimously selected current Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Vierra as the new Hart District Superintendent, filling the vacancy created when Mike Kuhlman resigned effective June 30.
Hart Board Selects Current Interim Superintendent to Fill Vacancy
"Christmas Carol: The True Meaning of Christmas" will be performed on stage at the Canyon Theatre Guild on weekends beginning Friday, Nov. 29 thru Monday, Dec. 23 at 24242 Main St., Newhall, CA 91321.
Nov. 29: ‘Christmas Carol, The True Meaning of Christmas’
The California Air Resources Board has approved a $34.94 million incentives funding plan that will continue support ongoing efforts to increase access to medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission trucks, buses and equipment, with a focus on small businesses.
CARB Incentive Plan Focuses on Fleets for Small Businesses
Preparing to decorate for the holidays? If you come across broken string lights that are no longer usable, instead of tossing in the trash you can now drop them off for recycling at one of the SAFE collection centers
Recycle Broken Holiday Lights at SAFE Collection Centers
SCVNews.com