September 15, 1931 – December 22, 2022 Born in a farmhouse in Indiana in 1931, Noah graduated from Purdue University in 1953 and then left for Korea, where he served in the 159th Field Artillery Battalion. 

After the war, he earned his Masters in Theater Arts from UCLA and then, in 1963, his PhD in Communications from USC. Noah settled in San Pedro and taught as a tenured professor of speech and communication at Los Angeles City College until his retirement. During that time, he co-authored the textbooks “Speaking Clearly” and “Speaking Publicly.” He retired from the Army Reserves as a full Colonel in 1991. 

Noah devoted many years of service to the South Shores Homeowners Association and other civic groups in the city. He hiked Friendship Park in San Pedro daily, where he would pick up litter with a metal pincer. 

Noah disliked being called “doctor,” and would point out that he wasn’t the type of doctor who did anyone any good. In fact, he spent his life trying to do good for his family, his students, and his community. 

Noah is survived by his son Tod, his daughter-in-law Dani Klein, and his grandsons Gabriel and Gideon Modisett. His beloved wife Linda passed in 2005.

Published by Los Angeles Times on Jan. 8, 2023.