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| Van Cooke |
Van Cooke fondly recalls the day this photograph (pictured above) was taken of her in 1945. "I was asked by the Nashville Tennessean Magazine to pose for its cover story on girls headed to college," says Van. "I was such a young thing."
More than 60 years later, Van is being featured again—this time for her philanthropic involvement.
Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Van was raised to value education and charity. She graduated from Pine Manor Junior College in Massachusetts in 1947, married an ensign in the Navy, and moved several times before settling in San Diego where she has lived for more than 50 years.
Over the years, Van has always felt good about giving back—whether it's through time or charity. Van has shared her generosity by contributing annually to her alma mater, the Salvation Army, and UC San Diego, specifically the Shiley Eye Center.
Van became personally familiar with the Shiley Eye Center when her vision began to diminish in her right eye. Through a friend's recommendation, she sought the care of Stuart Brown, M.D., and William Freeman, M.D., at Shiley. Freeman diagnosed Van with age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in Americans over 65 and one that currently has no available cure.
"When Dr. Freeman told me it was macular degeneration—the first thing I thought of was my father," says Van. "I felt helpless. I didn't want to suffer like he did."
Thankfully, Freeman and Barbara Brody, M.P.H., stepped in and informed Van of a special Shiley Eye Center support group for those suffering from macular degeneration. Brody, a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Family and Preventative Medicine and the Director of the Community Ophthalmology Division at the Shiley Eye Center, oversees several of these community support programs available at Shiley.
Van says she owes her life to the program. "I thoroughly believe in this program. By interacting with other women going through the same disease, I realized that I was not alone and there was hope."
Her belief in the program is what drew Van to want to give more to the Shiley Eye Center. Unsure of what she could actually provide, she learned through the Office of Planned Giving that she could make a big difference to Shiley by making provisions to support Shiley's macular degeneration research in her living trust.
"I never realized that I could do something like this, but it's perfect," says Van. "I can't give much, but I know my gift to Shiley will go toward research to help more people like me—maybe even find a cure for my disease."
Although Van suffers from macular degeneration, she has not allowed it to stop her everyday routines—particularly, her visits to the Kono Café in Pacific Beach where she eats breakfast twice a week and welcomes patrons. On any given day you might see Van there, with the same smile and warm spirit.
The UCSD Shiley Eye Center is deeply grateful for Van Cooke's generous and thoughtful planned gift. To learn more about the benefits of planned giving, please call 858-534-2249 or email giftplanning@ucsd.edu.
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