Robert Cochran ’55

Bob, the son of Dr. William Carter Cochran ’25 and Mary Cochran, was born Oct. 9, 1932. He and his twin brother, Jim ’55, were raised in China until World War II.

At Princeton he majored in economics, joined Prospect Club, and roomed at 35 N.W. College with brother Jim and Rubin Pittman. After spending two years at Boston University Medical School, Bob joined the Navy Medical Corps and served in Norfolk, Va., Vietnam (on the USS Repose), and New York City. For 15 years he was chief of surgery at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, where he was physician to Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan.

After retirement from the Navy, Bob was appointed professor of surgery at West Virginia University School of Medicine, Charleston Division, serving until his death Sept. 2, 2013. Bob twice received the Vincent Von Kern Award for a surgeon making the greatest contribution to resident education.

A passionate and eternally suffering Red Sox fan, Bob also followed the Patriots and the Redskins. He spent 25 years traveling with his wife, Beckey; their last trip around Cape Horn from Buenos Aires to Santiago made after his diagnosis of lung cancer.

He is survived by Beckey; children Barbara, Gwendolen, and Williams; brother Jim; and sister Ann Hunt. To them all, the class expresses sympathy and admiration.