Jack Cross

San Jose Mercury News 10/24/2014, Page A11

Jack (Arnold Frank) Cross

February 26, 1932- September 26, 2014 Cupertino

Jack Cross passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving wife, Bette and his eldest daughter Laurie. He positively impacted thousands of lives and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, former students and players.

Born on February 26, in Ontario, OR, to Pearl and Arnold Cross, Jack went on to live in Boise and Twin Falls, ID, with his parents and younger brother, Gene. Jack graduated from Twin Falls HS, class of 1950, where he was a football and track star qualifying him for a football scholarship from the University of Utah graduating with degrees in Political Science and Law. In 1952, Jack married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Bette Cronenberger. They were blessed with 62 ½ years of marriage and 3 daughters, Laurie, Cindi, and Jackie.

Jack was a college football All American drafted by the Detroit Lions but, unfortunately, a knee injury ended his football career. Jack served his country with honor and patriotism as an officer in the United States Navy. After his tour of duty, he moved his young family to California and was a teacher and assistant football coach at Los Altos HS in Los Altos, CA and, later, was an assistant football coach at Stanford University from 1960-1963. After his years at Stanford, he coached football and taught at Cupertino HS, and from 1970-1992 was a Counselor and teacher at Monta Vista HS. Jack earned two Masters Degrees, one from Stanford and one from Santa Clara University. Jack retired after 32 years in the California Public School system where he loved his students and his players and they loved him.

Jack Cross was a man who lit up a room with his smile. His positive mental attitude, kindness and generosity inspired all who knew him. He loved his wife, daughters and grandchildren and was a devoted family man. He and Bette enjoyed 20+ fun years on their boat, the Bette Marie, with all the dear friends they made on the Sacramento Delta. Jack loved his friends and played poker with the same group of men for over 40 years. He was a mentor and an encourager to so many and a friend to all. He loved life and always had a new joke ready to share. He was deeply loved and will be missed forever by his best friend and precious wife, Bette Cross, their 3 daughters and their husbands (Laurie and Phil Seghi, Cindi and Fred Yanney, Jackie and John Matthews) and their 6 grandchildren and their spouses (Christopher, Andrew, John, Emily, Grace, Sarah, James), their Swedish foreign exchange student (who was like a daughter) Ellen Tiselius and her children, Joakim, Linnea, and his br other Gene.

He is in Heaven now, whole and healthy and probably playing football and telling jokes. “Have you heard the one about the little bird who said ‘tweet tweet’?”

The family is planning to hold a “Celebration of Jack’s Life” in Cupertino next February, so please contact the family for more information and to be put on the invite list via email at CrossDaughters@gmail.com