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Saratoga Sampler
Jim Compton honored with peace award
By Mary Ann Cook
PEACE AWARD: Saratoga philanthropist James R. Compton last week was named the first recipient of a new peace award, which was named for him. The James R. Compton Peace Award was presented to Compton at a dinner sponsored by The Fund for Peace at Stanford University.
Compton is chairman of the board of The Fund for Peace. William Perry, former secretary of defense, was the speaker at the dinner. The peace award will be given every other year to those who exemplify Compton's own commitment to education, research and the building of peace.
Compton's reach has been international in scope. He is the former board president of the Compton Foundation, an agency his parents founded, dedicated to the issues of peace, population and the environment. He is a board member of World Learning, an organization that trains people to think globally.
World Learning sponsors citizen exchanges, language programs and the pursuit of international projects. The honored peace activist is the former president of the Montalvo Association and is the former chairman of the board of directors of River Network, a national organization for river conservation.
After selling the tennis club complex he developed, Compton devoted more of his life to "working on solutions to some of the world's major problems," as he put it. The Compton Foundation was founded in 1946. His master's degree is from the University of Chicago and his bachelor's in economics from Princeton.
Compton was named the Outstanding Philanthropist of 1995 by the National Association of Fund Raising Executives and was named to the Environmental Hall of Fame in 1996 by the California League of Conservation Voters.
His wife, Patricia, is director of the Silicon Valley chapter of the Commonwealth Club, and he has three sons. An avid sportsman, including such taxing sports as white-water kayaking and skiing, Compton recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
SARATOGA TORCHBEARERS: In addition to Joe Fitzsimmons, featured in the Jan. 16 Saratoga News cover story, and Roger Adams, physical education teacher and coach at St. Andrew's School, mentioned in last week's column, two other Saratogans carried the Olympic torch on its way to Salt Lake City.
They are Alice Hoglan, mother of Flight 93 hero Mark Bingham; and Yosh Uchida, judo champ, teacher and Japanese community activist. Hoglan, who technically lives in the Los Gatos hills, has temporarily taken up residence at her brother's home in Saratoga since the birth of his triplets. Hoglan was the surrogate mother of the triplets.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY: Happy 50th wedding anniversary to two who are sweethearts both together and apart: Betty and Willys Peck. On their honeymoon they spent two days in Carmel because they ran out of money. For their anniversary they'll again spend two days in Carmel.
Hopefully it's because they ran out of time, rather than money this time. They are the parents of Anna Rainville and Bill Peck, among other lifetime distinctions of service to the community--Willys in local lore and journalism; she in early childhood teaching and gardens.
IN SYMPATHY WITH SYMPHONY: The San Jose Youth Symphony is in great danger of going under, much like its adult counterpart. So San Jose Symphony musicians will present a benefit concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $10-$40 at 408.283.4113.
The phone line is open from 4 to 8 p.m. only. Saratoga youngsters in the youth symphony are Jonathan Choi, Jessica Deleon, Roy Jang and Joyce Lee. Those from Los Gatos are Kelly Johnson, Emelina Choi and Samuel Hage, all seniors at Los Gatos High School.
Local San Jose Symphony members performing include Mimi Carlson, flute; Bob Szabo, trombone; Jim Dooley, trumpet; and Laura Caballero, violin. Van Cliburn winner Jon Nakamatsu will be featured at a benefit for the San Jose Symphony on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. at the CPA.
These days symphony musicians are forced to play a fundraising role along with their instruments.
TAIKO DRUMMERS: Another music group in trouble: The Saratoga Sister City Taiko Group needs storage space for its drums or it will be forced to disband. The group is losing its space at Hakone Gardens and is calling on the community for help. If you can offer a facility or a solution for them, contact Marilyn White at 408.867.9417 or mwhitecpts@aol.com.
FAILURE IS IMPOSSIBLE: Marty Kendall's book, Failure Is Impossible, about the history of the women's movement, just won the American Library Association award "Best Book for Young Adults" for the year 2001.
FLUTE CONCERT: Flutist Debra Reuter-Pivetta and pianist Federico Pivetta will perform at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Los Gatos High School auditorium. New works by contemporary composers are expected to be part of the performance. The concert is sponsored by the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Concerts Association. Tickets available at the door: $20, adults; $5, students. For more information, call Ray Strong at 408.377.1106.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
