John W. Coogan ’55

Jack prepped at Pingry. His Princeton professors gave him the tools to lead, with his wife, Mary, a teaching and coaching career in which many students sought their advice.

Jack’s coaching began with seven track novices on a meadow featuring one cow. He also coached football, tennis, and squash. In 1987, he wrote his vocabulary-building book for high schoolers, A Workbook of Words. Upon retirement, Jack joined SquashBusters, which offered after-school tutoring, education enrichment, community service, and even squash to disadvantaged youths.

On the passing of a distinguished educator, whose achievements are too numerous to list here, the class expresses its profound sympathy and sense of loss to Jack’s children,  John W. Jr., Craig B., and Melissa Coogan Abbott; two grandchildren; and his wife, Mary.