Letter: Jones, Schuetz fight battle against cancer

The love that Richard Schuetz has shown for Jan Laverty Jones is beyond unique. I believe the term "soulmates" is often overused, but not on this occasion. They both are fighting and beating cancer.

Schuetz is candid, especially when realizing that their financial wealth enables them to get the best treatment, while acknowledging the struggles of the less fortunate women, who are perhaps waiting to "see doctors." It is not at all common for people of means to truly have empathy for the plight of the poor, but this couple does.

When I was the principal of K.O. Knudson Middle School, the Honor Society invited citizen Jones to be the guest speaker. In those days, she was performing in silly car commercials and none of us realized she was a Stanford graduate.

As mayor, Jones never forgot us and visited the school often. One day, she called and said, "Steve, I think I found somebody who will fund your summer math program." The funding lasted a full year, and the Mayor's Committee for Better Schools was born.

I remember, in college, a poem that just stuck in my mind for all these years; perhaps I now know why. I'm sure Richard Schuetz will agree.

"Sometimes she sails with the Wind,

Sometimes she sails against the Wind,

But, sail she must."

Steven Weiner

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