Former Honolulu resident Robert A. Stafford — civil rights activist, lawyer, educator, sailor and cattle rancher — died Jan. 4 in Claremont, Calif., where he had fought for the rights of Native American tribes and educational groups. He was 90.

Stafford graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1935 and the University of Hawai'i in 1939. He went on to graduate from Yale Law School in 1942, the same year he married ML, his wife of 67 years, whom he met at UH.

He served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he and his wife eventually settled in California, where Stafford opened a general law practice and where he lived for the remainder of his life.

He served four terms as a member of the Claremont Board of Education, including one term as president.

Stafford also served on the California School Boards Association, as a trustee of Scripps College.

Stafford is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

A memorial service was held Feb. 8 on the Scripps campus. Memorial contributions may be made to the Claremont Educational Foundation, 112 Harvard Ave., No. 191, Claremont, CA 91711.