John Williams Cochran ’53

John Cochran, who died Nov. 5, 1997, was born in Boston but grew up in China, where his parents were medical missionaries. One of John's roommates, Marty Litke, recalled that John attended Peking American School until Mao Tse-tung came into power. John's father, Williams '25, was put in a concentration camp for a period, and John was evacuated back to the U.S. He completed his secondary schooling at Deerfield.

On campus, John joined Dial Lodge and the Republican Club and was an excellent debater in Whig-Clio's Model Senate. Classmate Bob Frye joked that he and John pursued different courses except for the happy times when they met with Marty and Bill Scragg '53 for bridge and libations. John majored in politics and served two years in the Army. He earned his law degree from Harvard and became primarily a securities law attorney. John and his wife, Carol, lived in Edina, Minn., where he was active in Volunteer Lawyers Network and was a longtime member of Good Samaritan United Methodist Church. The Cochrans and Litkes graced our Mar. 6, 1996, class notes when they were shown on a midwestern bird-watching trip. Our heartfelt condolences to Carol, daughter Caroline, mother Mary, twin brothers James B. II '55 and Robert C. '55, and sister Ann Hunt.

The Class of 1953