The Mercury News25%
Sunny Diane Claggett Obituary - San Jose, CA (1945-2026) 86%
By The Mercury News94%
7/19/2026, 7:05:00 AM
Topics: Obituaries
Keywords: Sunny Diane Claggett, Obituaries
BS Summary: This article contains 20 faulty reasoning types, including Halo Effect, Appeal to Emotion, and Ambiguity (Equivocation), with Biased Writer Voice as the most egregious example at 58.1% saturation with 430 hits. Analysis detected 2,130 faulty-reasoning hits from 740 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 79.1% and a BS Rank of 86% (2,675 of 18,604 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 85.60% of the article peer group.
Sunny Diane Claggett never met a stranger.
She believed that everyone had a story to tell, and she genuinely wanted to hear it.
That simple philosophy shaped a remarkable life.
"Sunny" wasn't a nickname.
It was her given name and one she truly lived up to.
She could light up a room with her warmth and infectious smile, yet behind that easy charm was a powerful and capable woman--an accomplished executive, civic leader, mentor, and coach as well as a talented chef, gardener, and seamstress whose influence reached far beyond the people who knew her personally.
She inspired others not only through what she accomplished and but also through how she lived.
Born in Abilene, Kansas on August 28, 1945 to Maryanne Fuller Robertson and Rees Stewart Robertson, Sunny grew up with the spirit and determination that would define her throughout her life.
She attended Drury College before earning her degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1978.
Her professional career reflected her talent and passion for helping people succeed.
From forming her own executive coaching firm to becoming a partner with SK Consulting and later spending nearly 20 years in leadership as a Vice President with CBIZ, a publicly traded advisory firm, Sunny became a widely respected executive coach and organizational development consultant.
She advised senior executives, leadership teams, and organizations through periods of growth and change, earning the trust of companies like Nike, eBay, Dolby Laboratories, and many others.
Among the notable executives who sought her counsel were leaders such as Phil Knight and Thomas Dolby.
Those who worked with Sunny often discovered that she was more than a coach; she was a mentor, a confidante, and an inspiration whose advice shaped careers and, often, lives.
She was especially renowned for her remarkable skills as a facilitator, even during the most difficult organizational changes and conflicts.
Countless teams, businesses, and non-profits were guided through difficult challenges thanks to her unique skills.
Her impact extended well beyond business.
Sunny believed that strong communities are built by developing strong leaders.
She founded and led the San Jose Chamber of Commerce's Community Leadership San Jose program, helping prepare generations of civic and business leaders to serve the community she loved.
She also dedicated herself to numerous arts and civic organizations, including American Musical Theatre of San Jose, the YMCA, and CreaTV, believing deeply that vibrant communities depend as much on culture and service as they do on commerce.
Beyond the charm, humor, and style she was known for, Sunny maintained a deep reservoir of inner strength and resilience.
When her first bout with cancer claimed her hair in the late 80s, friends wondered if she might skip that year's Silicon Valley gala.
Instead, Sunny arrived with her shaven head adorned with an elegant pink ribbon.
She refused to let cancer rob her of living her life, and she did so in characteristic style.
In 1986, Sunny married William Ernest Claggett.
Together they built a life filled with world travel, deep friendships, and a shared commitment to making San Jose a stronger community.
By the early 90s the couple had become glamorous fixtures of the San Jose social scene, and their elegantly appointed Willow Glen home had become a gathering place where good food, wine, laughter, and conversations stretched long into the evening.
Sunny loved nothing more than being surrounded by family, including her daughter, Jerilayne, and son in-law, Mark; their children, Brittany, Bryan, and Will; and her great- granddaughter, Emmy.
Together with Bill, she created a loving environment for his children, Peter and Hilary, and their children, Eli and Hannah.
She genuinely celebrated the individuality of her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter, always encouraging and supporting their dreams.
Sunny was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William Ernest Claggett; and her sister, Ann.
She is survived by her daughter, Jerilayne; stepchildren, Peter and Hilary; her sister, Robin Riewaldt; her beloved grandchildren; and countless friends, colleagues, former clients, and community leaders whose lives are richer because Sunny was a part of them.
In keeping with her wishes, there will be no service and no flowers.
If so inclined, donations may be made to San Jose Leadership through the Rick Holden Memorial Scholarship c/o SJ Chamber of Commerce.
The family asks that you simply raise a glass in her memory ... and smile.
Sunny would want that most of all.
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