John R. Cobau ’56

Jack died April 1, 2020, like too many others succumbing to COVID-19, in Grosse Pointe, Mich.

He grew up in New Castle, Pa., where he attended New Castle High School. He attended Kenyon College before transferring to Princeton and earning a degree in history. At Princeton and after, Jack lived the life of a true intellectual, reading voraciously and engaging in lively debates on the issues of the day in book clubs and discussion groups.

After Princeton he attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1960. At Harvard he met Arlene (Smith ’59), and they began a partnership that only grew stronger over 60 years of marriage and uncountable fiercely contested bridge matches.

After a stint practicing law in Cincinnati, Jack and Arlene moved to Grosse Pointe, just outside Detroit. Jack practiced with a firm in Detroit before setting up his own practice in Grosse Pointe, wisely counseling hundreds of individuals and small businesses through their legal issues. Jack enjoyed tennis and was a lifelong Rotarian, serving several times as president of his local chapter.

Jack is survived by Arlene; sons William ’83, Jay, Tom, and John ’89; 10 grandchildren; and brother William.