Saratoga Stereopticon

Take a look around to find quality of life

By Willys Peck

You really had to hand it to the ancient Romans when it came to efficiency in language. Latin phrases and mottos can convey in a few syllables what we Anglo-Saxon types take whole sentences to express.

One of my favorites is the inscription on St. Paul's Cathedral in London, composed by the son of Christopher Wren, the building's architect: "Si monumentum requiris circumspice" (If you would see the man's monument, look around). I like it for its applicability to other locations; say, to a town. Say, to Saratoga.

It comes to mind when I think of some people who have died in recent months. If their monuments don't exist in a physical sense, they do in that somewhat amorphous attribute known as quality of life. Saratoga is the desirable place it is, in large part, because these people chose to do more than just live here.

Virgil Campbell and his wife, Jane, could be cited as textbook examples. Virgil died last June, not quite a year after his wife. They were in their mid-20s when they came here in late 1935 to take over a grocery, as it was then called, located in the Carmichael Block adjacent to the present fire station. Before its 1965 demolition when the highway was widened, the building housed the town pool hall in its later years.

In 1938, Campbell's Foothill Grocery--its revised name--moved to a new building on Big Basin Way that is now occupied by the Fat Robin and La Mesa Linens. The building's owner, Verna Downing, who succeeded her late husband as a butcher, lived in the apartment over the store, making for an easy commute. About 10 years later the Campbells moved the market to their brand-new building on Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, now occupied by Contempo Realty.

When it came to running the store, the Campbells were a team, Virgil overseeing the market and Jane handling the office chores. Along the way, they raised two sons, John and Hugh. Then, in 1960, they leased the market to a new proprietor, and Virgil became a sales representative for the American Automobile Association for the next 16 years, retiring in 1976.

There is nothing really remarkable about a hard-working couple raising a family. What is remarkable in the case of Virgil and Jane is the extent to which they were involved in the community. Among Virgil's commitments was a 16-year stint on what is now the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board, during which time he helped choose the site for Saratoga High School. The first issue of the school's yearbook was dedicated to him.

He also served 16 years on the Saratoga Cemetery District board. As a founding member of the Saratoga Lions Club, he served a term as president. As an active member of the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department for 33 years, he served a term as chief. He was a member and past president of the Saratoga Men's Club and a longtime member of the Masonic Lodge, holding several offices.

There was other civic involvement: chairmanship of the Saratoga Salvation Army Committee for more than 35 years; civilian activities on behalf of the war effort during World War II; Chamber of Commerce presidency and service on the advisory committee for the Saratoga General Plan at the time of incorporation.

Jane had a matching range of activities that included heading elementary and high school Parent Teacher Associations; presidency of the Saratoga Foothill Club; chairmanship of the forerunner of the Saratoga Youth Center Committee, on which latter she served as secretary; and key roles in organizing Pony League and Babe Ruth baseball leagues. Small wonder that son Hugh followed a career in athletics that included playing and coaching professional football.

Trained as a teacher--she had a secondary credential and a master's degree in guidance--Jane taught at Edison High School in San Jose for 11 years after the Campbells left the market business. The Los Gatos-Saratoga Branch of the American Association of University Women named a fellowship grant for her.

There are other people whose contributions live on in the community, and they will be the subject of future columns.

Si monumentum requiris circumspice.

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