By Stuart Soffer
E-mail Stuart Soffer
About this blog: Growing up in Brooklyn, NY I lived in high-density housing and experienced transit-oriented services first hand. During high school and college summers I worked in Manhattan drafting tenant floor plans for high-rise office buildi...
(More)About this blog: Growing up in Brooklyn, NY I lived in high-density housing and experienced transit-oriented services first hand. During high school and college summers I worked in Manhattan drafting tenant floor plans for high-rise office buildings. This could have been a career option, but my interest in computers - unusual at the time - led me to the computer science program at the University of Wisconsin. A programming job on Page Mill Road brought me to Palo Alto after college. Since 1993 I consult on bridging law and technology, and serve as an expert witness in Intellectual Property litigation. We moved to Menlo Park's Linfield Oaks neighborhood in 1994. Neighborhood traffic issues motivated my initial volunteering as a Menlo Park Planning Commissioner, followed by a stint as a Chamber of Commerce board member and most recently a finance/audit committee member. I advocate community volunteering for meeting people, the neighborhoods, and understanding the myriad issues that somehow arise. As hobbies I collect contemporary art and vintage cameras. And? fly helicopters, which offer rare views of the nooks and crannies of the Bay Area.
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While my father lived his final years at Palo Alto Commons I’d bring Henry our Bichon with me to see ‘grandpa.’ It was discouraged, but that flew in the face of the benefits of bringing some joy. Henry loved to visit, and the other residents loved it.
Sunday, I stopped by the Commons on a whim - maybe the first time since my father died - with Henry. And guess what? The Commons now has a resident community dog, Fluffy, living in the focused care wing, who looks like Henry.
I’ll attribute this to their experience with Henry visits, and the reactions observed from other residents. Not to mention that dropped food is quickly located and consumed by a dog.
Good for Palo Alto Commons for taking this step.
Good medicine.
