POMONA >> Perhaps it goes without saying for a bookstore owner, Dwain George Kaiser was a gregarious man who loved reading.

But the owner of Magic Door Books is not only being remembered for his love of books but also his love of the community.

Kaiser, 69, was killed early Monday morning in his apartment at 175 W. Second St. in the downtown Arts Colony area, police said. His apartment sits above the bookstore he and his wife have owned for more than a decade.

“He was always reading something,” longtime friend John Welsh said. “But what he loved about his bookstores was getting to meet a variety of people and getting to talk to them.”

Bookstores abounded

Kaiser opened his first Magic Door used bookstore in Claremont in 1967, just after graduating from high school. He closed it to return to college to avoid the draft.

He later opened Magic Door bookstores in downtown Upland, twice, and Packinghouse Books in Claremont. In 2005, after a few years away, he launched his fourth Magic Door store — the name comes from an essay in praise of books by Arthur Conan Doyle — at 155 W. Second St. in Pomona.

Welsh and Kaiser first met 50 years ago when they were teens and part of a local science fiction club. The club eventually disbanded, but the two remained friends, Welsh, also a Pomona resident, said.

Welsh would often stop by Kaiser’s bookstores to visit. The two would usually discuss movies — Kaiser was a big movie buff — politics and, of course, science fiction.

“It’s shocking,” Welsh said Tuesday afternoon. “It’s hard to believe I’ll never talk to him again.”

Just after midnight Monday, police received a call about a shooting. Taken into custody was an unidentified teen — unrelated to the Kaisers — who lived with them.

Not in it for the money

Speaking by phone Tuesday morning, Melanie Yetter said her friend kept his bookstore open even though it didn’t provide a livable salary.

Which is why Yetter said she has created a GoFundMe page to help his wife, JoAnn Kaiser, who is in her 80s, with funeral expenses.

“We are devastated over the loss of Dwain and the effects this loss will have on many lives,” Yetter, who owns Open Door 2 Yoga next door to Magic Door Books, wrote on the page.

“She lost everything,” Yetter said by phone. “They couldn’t afford life insurance. They worked in the latter part of their lives because they couldn’t afford to live in their home. I hope we as a community in Pomona and around can pull together and make somewhat of a difference.”

The page had raised $5,710 as of 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“He knew every single title and author that was in that store,” Yetter said.

Yetter heard the news about the fatal shooting via a text. She raced down to be with JoAnn Kaiser, whom Yetter described as being in shock.

As of now, Yetter said JoAnn Kaiser wasn’t sure if the bookstore would ever reopen.

A cat in need

On Monday, JoAnn Kaiser asked Welsh for help in finding a new home for Charlie Girl Ghost, the cat the couple adopted last summer, Welsh said. A Gofundme.com page, just for Charlie Girl Ghost’s needs, has been set up.

“Last night, the husband, Dwain Kaiser was murdered,” says the fundraising page. “His wife, Joann, is in desperate need of a foster, which I have found. Funds are needed to care for this kitty.”

Both Welsh and Yetter said they will remember their friend for always being well-versed, able to carry on a conversation with anyone.

“He was always smiling and just one of those people that could carry a conversation with anyone,” Yetter said. “It was a beautiful experience to have known him.”

Pomona police said Tuesday the department did not have any new details on the case. Plans for services for Kaiser have not been made.