Posted by: thepinetree on 02/12/2021 01:51 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 02/12/2021 02:58 PM
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Jack Kuhn 1950 - 2021
Arnold, CA...Jack Kuhn, 1-4-1950 to 1-28-2021. Jack Kuhn, 71, resident of Arnold, CA, passed away January 28, 2021 at his home due to pancreatic cancer. Jack was born in Kansas City, MO to Jack, Jr. and Virginia Kuhn. In 1953, the family moved to Castro Valley, CA. Jack met his future wife, Cathy Florio, in 7th grade at AB Morris Junior High, Castro Valley and graduated with her from Castro Valley High School. They started their romantic relationship at California State University, Hayward where Jack obtained a B.A. in Political Science. Jack and Cathy married after graduation in 1972 and moved to Fremont.
Jack worked for Longs Drugs as a management trainee and department manager in the Fremont and Danville stores. In 1976 he had the opportunity to switch to pharmaceutical sales and he began a successful 31-year sales career.
Working for several different companies, he traveled territories all throughout Northern California, from Visalia to Eureka. When he became an oncology sales representative in 1983 with Adria (which became Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn, and finally Pfizer) he continued with California districts and the State of Hawaii. He earned many awards, including Salesman of the District in 2004 which won him a Sales Master trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2005. Jack was active in the Dublin–Pleasanton area American Cancer Society and chaired several “Celebrations of Life” for cancer survivors and their families.
When the family moved to Dublin in 1993 with their daughter Michelle, Jack became involved in the Parents group for the Wells Middle School Band. He and Cathy chaperoned several Band Disneyland Trips. When Michelle continued in Band at Dublin High School, he worked events for the Band Boosters as well as chaperoned the Band trip to Dublin, Ireland for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2000. Jack was very proud of his daughter Michelle’s academic success, attending her graduations at UC Santa Barbara (B.A.), UC Los Angeles (M.A.) and Nagoya University, Japan for her second Master’s degree. His last foreign trip was to witness Michelle receive her PhD, also from Nagoya University, in 2018.
Jack was a 38 year member of the Porsche Club of America, beginning with the purchase of an 1972 ice green metallic Porsche 911. He served on the boards of the Golden Gate Region and organized with his wife over a dozen weekend GGR Yosemite Tours. He was active in GGR Time Trails, racing a 1973 orange Porsche 914 at tracks including Laguna Seca and Sears Point. He was also a charter member of Diablo Region, active in social and driving events and attending their weekly Saturday breakfasts. Jack and Cathy led weekend tours for the Diablo Region in their 911, going to both the Yosemite and Arnold-Murphys areas. When Jack retired to Arnold in 2010, he transferred to the Yosemite Region of PCA, most recently participating in their Food Drives. Jack was also active with Cathy in an informal group, the Mother Lode Porsche Group, which met for a monthly breakfast in Sonora and went on drives together.
Jack bought a vintage race car in 2000, a 1970 Indian red Porsche 914-6 which he had modified to be a 914-6 GT. He raced this car with the Historic Motor Sport Association at more tracks—Portland International Raceway and Coronado Speed Week in addition to Laguna Seca. He achieved a “bucket list” goal when he and his car were invited to race at the 2009 Monterey Historics Tribute to Porsche and to race at the first Monterey Motorsports Reunion in 2010. When Jack retired from racing, he sold the car to a buyer in Germany.
Jack loved to go to car museums and car shows as well. He was a member of the Briggs Cunningham Auto Museum (Costa Mesa, CA), National Automobile Museum (previously Harrah’s Car Collection in Reno, NV) and Blackhawk Museum (Danville, CA). He exhibited his 1972 911 at Porsche Club Concours and “Wash and Shine” events, the Ironstone Concours in Murphys, and the Arnold Auto Show.
Jack and Cathy enjoyed traveling during their 48 year marriage. During their first trip to Europe in 1983, they visited London and Germany and were invited to join the Dutch Porsche Club’s tour of the Porsche factory and Weissach testing facility. At a Porsche Parade (car convention) Jack and Cathy won an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii, taken in 1986. The family went on frequent road trips to the Pacific Northwest, Disneyland, California National Parks and 2 long distance trips between California and Kansas City, MO. In 2001 Jack and Cathy went back to Europe to pick up a BMW for Cathy, which they drove to castle hotels and race tracks in Germany and France.
Jack and Cathy celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on a cruise to Catalina and Mexico. In 2003, they took a trip to Washington D.C. and visited historic places such as Williamsburg, Gettysburg, Philadelphia and toured New York City. They went to Alaska twice, first on a Princess Cruise and Train tour and second by driving their Toyota Tundra through British Columbia to the Alaska Highway and Klondike Highway, returning by the Alaska Marine Highway on a ferry from Sitka to Bellingham, WA.
After Jack sold the 1972 911, he purchased a 2010 silver Porsche Cayman S from Porsche of Tucson, AZ. He timed the delivery of the car to be on their 45th wedding anniversary, so Jack and Cathy enjoyed driving the “new car” to Palm Desert for an anniversary dinner. Then, they drove home to Arnold after stops in Los Alamitos, the Porsche Experience (Carson, CA) and San Jose. Since 2017, Jack and Cathy enjoyed many drives in the Cayman S on mountain roads, including one over Tioga Pass and Ebbetts Pass Highways in September 2020.
Jack was a member of the Ebbetts Pass Moose Lodge, serving on their board for 3 years. He was also the Moose Lodge Scholarship Chairman for 2 years and enjoyed presenting Bret Harte High School seniors their scholarships on Scholarship Night. In addition, he was on the board of the Arnold Friends of the Library and served on the Calaveras County Library Commission. He also enjoyed his membership in the Arnold Sons In Retirement. He was a member of the Yosemite Conservancy and had visited Yosemite at least once a year since 1953.
Jack was preceded in death by his father Jack Kuhn, Jr. and his mother, Virginia Kuhn. He is survived by his wife Cathy, daughter Michelle Kuhn Hirano, daughter-in-law Cristina Hatsue Holanda Hirano, brother Dan Kuhn (wife Teresa), brother-in law Chuck Florio (wife Linda), nephew and niece Matt and Megan Florio, cousins by marriage, Bob, Lois, and Trisha Perkins, Tajai McGehee, and Jim Cinea, and many other family members. The Kuhn family thanks all the providers of Hospice of Amador and Calaveras, especially nurse Annie Calavan, for their care and support during Jack’s last month.
There will be no services at Jack’s request. Remembrances in Jack’s honor may be made to the Yosemite Conservancy, Ebbetts Pass Moose Lodge, Arnold Friends of the Library, Hospice of Amador and Calaveras or a charity of your choice.
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