Saratoga Sampler

Dr. Jack Cox celebrates 90th with family, friends

By Mary Ann Cook

Ninetieth FOR DOC: Flora and Jack Cox's children gave a party to commemorate their father's 90th birthday April 10. Dr. Jack Cox was a general practitioner in Saratoga from 1945 to 1966, when a series of heart attacks forced him to retire.

Dr. Louis Mendelsohn, (Mendelsohn street is named for him) asked Dr. Cox to join him in his practice and that's what drew the Coxes to Saratoga. Since Dr. Cox delivered so many babies in this area, he seldom goes out without running into someone who says, "Hey, you delivered me," reports wife Flora.

The Cox offspring are Margaret Johnston of San Jose; Lotte Tasker of Scotts Valley; and John Edward Cox of Northridge, and there are eight grandchildren.

Guests reflecting Jack Cox's civic involvement were Dan and Treve Ungaro (He's a former Saratoga Union School District superintendent; Cox served on the school board.); Jim and Dorothy Staehs of City Team Ministries; and Bob and Carol Chapman. Other doctors in attendance: Former colleague Robert O'Neill (and wife Dorothy) and Hans Orup.

Jack Cox had to leave school at age 14 when he contracted TB; he moved to New Mexico where he managed to shake the disease. After working as an orderly in New Mexico and the Bay Area, he went back to school at night at age 25, and gained admittance to Stanford in 1937.

He earned his degrees there, working his way through all the while. He met Flora when he offered her a ride home from class. "He calls me 'just a pickup,'" Flora says. "It's been a great life--married 58 years this June. We honeymooned at a Boy Scout camp." Where he was working, natch.

ARTIST'S RETURN: A painting of watercolorist Genie Even has been accepted for the prestigious California Watercolor Association annual show in San Francisco. The exhibit will be held at the Academy of Art, 410 Bush St., from June 1 to June 25.

Watercolorists from all over the country compete for places in this show and Connie's Iris made it. The watercolor is 28 inches by 36 inches, a fairly bulky package. Since she didn't want to drive, Even made the pilgrimage via BART, after several phone calls and with the help of a luggage carrier.

The painting was protected by a fleece cover she made herself. Over that went a tarp, since rain was in the forecast.

Although she was an art major at Claremont College, Even had been long absent from painting. After raising four children, she and her husband owned and operated a scuba diving boat in the Caribbean for 20 years. When she was widowed, she moved to Los Gatos to be with son and daughter-in-law Simon and Kathleen Even and resumed painting.

She is a member of Gallery Saratoga and several other art associations. She won Best of Show at the Fine Art League of Cupertino exhibit last year.

GOLF CLINIC FOR WOMEN: A golf clinic for women will be held May 17 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Saratoga Country Club. Cost is $150, and includes instruction from 13 different LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) members. The event is a benefit for the Arthritis Foundation.

Included is a drawing for a $10,000 diamond. Only 100 tickets, at $100 each, will be sold for the diamond drawing. All levels of golfers are welcome, and instruction will be in groups of five at different stations.

After instruction, the more experienced will play the course, accompanied by a pro. Featured luncheon speaker will be a doctor/specialist in arthritis. Jim Fuqua of Los Gatos is chair of the event and an Arthritis Foundation board member.

He heads Four Point, a communications company, and his daughter Anne, a teacher, has arthritis.

This is the second year for the event at which 70 trainees are expected. For raffle or clinic tickets, call (800) 464-6240.

LUSTY LUNGS: Nine-year-old Dana Tranchina of Saratoga sang the "Star Spangled Banner" before the Giant's game April 18. That's the San Jose Giant's game, you understand, not the more famous one to the north.

Dana really belted out the national anthem, and is not unfamiliar with the role of vocal chord opener; she performed those duties at Moreland Little League when her brother, Wes, played there. And Dana has appeared in Cinderella, Robin Hood and Wizard of Oz in San Jose Children's Musical Theater. Her parents are Alison and Ron.

CANCER PREVENTION: Dr. Edward Klein will outline lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of cancer by as much as 68 percent in a talk at the Discovery Shop April 28 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The shop at 39 E. Main St., Los Gatos, benefits the American Cancer Society.

PEN WOMEN: The local chapter of the National League of American Pen Women will gather at Dori Phifer's house May 1 for lunch and business meeting. The featured speaker will be your favorite columnist. No, not the ones you've been guessing--me.

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Saratoga Sampler

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