By Craig MacDonald
What do Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Peggy Fleming, World Renown Violinist Yehudi Menuhin, Famous Hollywood Actresses Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland, Author Ambrose Bierce, Muppet Puppeteer/Voice Actor Dave Goelz and many other celebrities have in common? They all chose to live or lived in or near Los Gatos, California.
The beautiful little town nestled near the slopes of the Santa Cruz
Mountains, near San Jose, has always been known for its beauty and
quaintness long before it was incorporated in 1887. Originally part of a
rancho dating to 1840, Los Gatos was called La Rinconada de Los Gatos (Cat's
Corner) because pioneers to the area often heard the screams of cougars and
mountain lions at night.
One who particularly enjoyed the beauty and sounds of the night was noted
author John Steinbeck, who reportedly worked on his novels Of Mice and Men”
and The Grapes of Wrath,” while living in a secluded spot. San Jose's
legendary printer, the late Leonard McKay, once told me about his interview
with Steinbeck.
McKay's high school teacher asked students to write a story on someone
interesting. McKay said he knew where Steinbeck lived and walked to his
rustic home, where he was greeted by the author's barking dog. Steinbeck
came to the door to see about the ruckus and McKay said he wanted to
interview him for a school paper.
Steinbeck invited him in. The student did his interview and wrote a
fascinating story about the man behind the books. Unfortunately, the teacher—for some reason—hated Steinbeck, gave McKay a poor grade and tore up the
paper! Too bad. Wouldn't that be a fascinating story to read? McKay said his
paper was a dandy but could not recall the details.
Another famous local resident was pioneer Sport's Psychologist and author,
Dr. Bruce Ogilvie, who lived near the stone cat pillars so-much enjoyed by
drivers on Highway 17. Ogilvie became a psychologist for the Olympics, San
Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Mets. When I was a freshman
basketball player at San Jose State, I had the pleasure of being interviewed
by the psychology professor at his beautiful home, as were fellow members of
the team, including Darnell Hillman, who would become the NBA's first slam
dunk champion.
Another fond Los Gatos memory—I played tennis on the championship Los Gatos
Swim and Racquet Club team and had the honor of meeting Hazel Hotchkiss
Wightman in Los Gatos. She was an international tennis champ, having won at
Wimbledon, at the U.S. Open and many other places. The Wightman Cup, an
annual event between women teams from the U.S. and England, was named in her
honor.
Today, the town of Los Gatos has more than 30,400 residents and thousands of
visitors, who love its locale, its restaurants; its special events and its
friendly people. Check out Los Gatos (the cats) for yourself, you'll be glad
you did. It's one cool cat!