Central Coast Claims Association President
Clarette Hook has not lived what many would consider a
conventional life. She never knew her father; he was
reported missing in the North Sea during World War II when
Clarette was three months old. Her grandparents tried to get
information on the circumstances of the crash of the plane
that he was piloting to be sure that he hadn't been captured
and held prisoner, but the information was classified and
sealed by the War Department until just six months ago- long
after her grandparents had passed away.
In the dark days following the missing in action report of
their only child, Clarette's grandmother became active in an
organization called the Gold Star Mothers, ultimately
serving as their National president for eight years. The
Gold Star Mothers was started in 1928 in order to help
veterans and surviving families of veterans after war, and
remains a viable organization today.
Because of her grandmother's involvement, Clarette and her
grandparents were invited to Dwight D. Eisenhower's
inauguration where Clarette, as a child, sat in the stands
as the former General was sworn in. Later she visited the
Congress and Senate and heard Richard Nixon speak as the
Vice-President for the first time.
Her father's parents stayed close with Clarette and her
mother and when Clarette's mother remarried and had two more
children, the grandparents treated her stepfather and new
siblings as part of their family. They paid the way to
college for all of the children and the weddings for
Clarette and her sister. Clarette remains close to her
brother and sister, and expresses great appreciation for her
grandparents.
A year and half ago, Clarette got a phone call from an
Illinois man who was contacting her on behalf of the
daughter of the co-pilot of her father's ill-fated plane - a
woman Clarette never knew existed. Jeanne Brooks was born
three months after her father went down in the bomber that
they now know was shot down by friendly fire. Jeanne and
Lowell Getz, who has a collection of records dealing with
the 91st Bomb Group used the Internet to track down Clarette
and after searching tirelessly finally located Clarette in
Campbell, CA. Jeanne and Clarette will meet each other and
their families at the end of May when the World War II
Monument is unveiled in Washington, DC.
Q. What do you expect
from your meeting with Jeanne, Clarette?
Clarette: We have a strong bond, we speak on the
phone at least once a month and send cards and letters. It's
wonderful, like having a childhood friend that I never knew
existed, it will be even better to be face to
face.
Q. Is it about
meeting someone you feel that you already know because of
similar experiences?
Clarette:
Yes. Jeanne's mother
and mine were able to talk on the phone but both of them
passed away within weeks of one another before they were
able to meet. Their conversations provided some closure for
my mother but I expect a greater sense of closure once I get
to meet Jeanne.
Q. How did you come
to work in the insurance repair field?
Clarette: I was an underwriter after college for Houston
Fire & Casualty for several years and after I left I
worked for insurance agencies. I worked for an agency and
with two other partners, took it over and specialized in
Liability, Life and Financial Planning. The partnership
broke up and JM Construction in Northern California asked me
to come up and head the insurance division. My son-in-law
later formed CPR with a partner to and I have been working
with them for seven years.
Q. What does CPR
do?
Clarette: CPR does insurance construction repair and
private commercial and residential remodels and additions-
no dry downs.
Q. You've been very
open about your cancer surgery, would you share the
circumstances?
Clarette: Of course.
For several years I had a sore throat and bouts with
laryngitis. I visited a doctor in Santa Cruz and a voice
therapist every month for two years to try to correct the
problems. When I was on a cruise with my family I went scuba
diving and almost didn't make it back to the surface because
I couldn't breathe.
When I got home a tumor was found on my vocal
chords about the size of a lemon that was interfering with
my air supply and surgery was scheduled immediately at
Stanford Medical Center- my larynx and vocal chords were
removed.
Q. Two years of visits to
the doctor didn't show anything?
Clarette: It should
have but I feel that the doctor was just over his head and
didn't recognize the symptoms of cancer. It has been
recommended that I sue the doctor for malpractice, but I
have decided not to. The doctor was censured for his failure
to recognize what was happening and act on it.
Q. What was the worst
thing about losing the ability to speak?
Clarette: It was so
frightening to think that I could find myself in an
emergency and not be able to communicate
Q. How did you
function while you were unable to speak?
Clarette: Well, I
just did what I had to do. I was the Golf Chairperson for
the Central Claims Association for several years. The Board
of Central Coast Claims and the vendors and adjusters who
participate have been incredibly supportive through all of
this.
Q. Now you're the
president of Central Coast Claims.
Clarette: That's
right. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to my
vice-president, Lenny Towle, has been a huge help with the
duties of this wonderful organization. Karen Cowan, who is
the Secretary, and Walt Wilson, who has done so much as
Speakers Chair, Membership Chair, and rep to the CCNC, have
been marvelously helpful. The past president, Jim Pfaff of
Cunningham Lindsey has been my friend and confidante. No one
in the CCCA has shied away from me because of my disability.
Q. You obviously have
a lot of courage, do you have any advice to give?
Clarette: Yes, you
really never know what is coming so each day that you are
healthy is precious. I never smoked nor drank so I'm proof
that you can't take your good health for granted.
Q. Is there anything
good that has come out of all of this?
Clarette: I have met
some wonderful people and doctors and I am grateful for them
and my friends in the industry.
Q. Have you learned
to adjust to your new circumstances?
Clarette: The truth
is, you never really adjust, you just learn to live with it.
I have a voice prosthesis made by Dr. Mark Singer in San
Francisco that makes it easier but I will never be used to
it.
Q. What are your
plans for the future?
Clarette: Jeanne and
I have been invited to the Oprah Winfrey show and I have
until October to decide if I want to accept. Other than
that, I plan to retire in December of 2005. My husband and I
celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in March so we're
looking forward to our future.
Photos:
Top Left - Joan Barrett; Top Right - Clarette Hook.
Joan Barrett is owner of the independent marketing firm,
Market Share. She is also past president of the Sacramento
Claims Association, 2004 President Claims Conference of
Northern, Inc., and a free-lance writer. Contact Joan at:
joanbarrett@yahoo.com.