Haas Estate

The city of San Jose needed an airport; the government eminent domained their 100-acre ranch, for $500 per acre. They looked around for a place to raise a family and found this 10 acre plot not too far from the ocean and bought it for $10,000. Several years later, the adjacent plot was for sale, so they also bought it for $25,000. Together, there was about 83 acres of hilly land, quite enough for a small family.

They raised two kids. The boy grew up to be a teacher and lived with them. When his family blossomed, they gave him 10 acres. The young couple hand-built their nest, and lived there for the next 35 years, until now.

Jerry, born Gerald, commuted to silicon valley from his Santa Cruz home for 40 years until his retirement in 2006. This beloved math teacher, commonly known as Mr. Haas, introduced me to his 94-year-old mother in his enchanted house, built on the land bestowed upon him 35 years ago. Over BBQ chicken, beef, and free flowing wines, we talked freely. I tried to talk him out of retirement, but he was not drunk enough to agree.

Back home, Wife and I talked about his commute, herd of deer, birds feasting from his bird houses, and a workshop rivaling Norm Abram’s. Life is the accumulation of choices. Mr. Haas made his and stuck it out. That Saturday, he hosted four families of students who went to CalTech, MIT, UC/Davis, and Carnegie-Mellon. They are but a small sample of lives he imprinted upon. We admired his life decisions; our own have long made that an impossibility.

We are glad that Mr. Haas’s life crossed ours. I now knew him more as Jerry than Mr. Haas of Lynbrook High. I would very much like to sit under his arbor and share wines again. Next time, we shall drink Santa Cruz wines, instead of Napa Valley. And I would hike up to admire an overlook to Monterey Bay.

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