Jean Lewis Fox Horn
Sept. 9, 1932-April 11, 2015
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Lisa Horn

Jean Lewis Fox Horn passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 11, at Stanford Hospital, secondary to cardiac disease.

Jeanie was born on Sept. 9, 1932, in Summit, New Jersey, to John and Helen Fox. With her parents and two younger sisters, the family moved to East Hartford, Connecticut, in 1942, where she attended grammar school. Two years later, during World War II, the Fox family moved to the Territory of Hawaii; they traveled on a converted cement freighter, zig-zagging across the Pacific to avoid enemy detection.

Jeanie celebrated her 12th birthday on this voyage, arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii to begin eighth grade at Punahou School. She graduated from Punahou in 1949 as class valedictorian. At age 16, Jeanie entered Stanford University as a freshman, where she majored in economics, was a Stanford Dolly, met Richard ("Dick") Horn, a football player at Stanford, whom she married in 1954. After they graduated, Dick went to Stanford Medical School and became a pediatrician.

Jeanie and Dick lived in Northern California for 60 years, the last 44 in the same adobe brick home in Palo Alto, which has been a friendly and welcoming gathering spot for family and friends. Jeanie and Dick were known for opening their home over the years to numerous Stanford students, tennis players and medical students, taking them in as extended family.

Every year, Jeanie would return to Hawaii, renewing childhood friendships. Jeanie excelled at tennis (playing three times a week until her last week of life!) and enjoyed gardening, volunteering at the Children's Health Council and Bargain Box, hostessing family parties, playing bridge and Words With Friends, participating in book groups, sewing, refinishing furniture, and working on her Apple computer and iPhone.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Richard; their four children, John, Lisa, Bruce and Kristin; and their grandchildren, Mia, Cameron, Chloe and Nina. Her passing has stunned us all, as she was fit, healthy, intellectually sharp and funny, and we all felt she would live to 99 years old. We will miss her beautiful smile, and without a doubt she will leave a huge void in her family and close circle of friends, many of whom have loved her for 50 years or more.