Robert Randolph Cotten II ’39

Bob died Dec. 30, 2003, in Binghamton, N.Y.

His unusually varied career began after he earned his law degree at Harvard in 1942. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve and served with the Supply Corps in Africa, the Caribbean, and South Pacific until 1946, when he went on inactive duty as a lieutenant. He then went to practice law in Binghamton, serving as corporation counsel for that city as well as working with the Binghamton Housing Authority in establishing the city's first public housing complex.

Moving to NYC, he worked for the SEC and as an investigator for the US Dept. of Agriculture. But he always had his heart set on the study of history, so in 1969 he changed his professional focus to academe and joined Broome Community College as associate professor in the liberal arts division, teaching history, English, and economics until he retired in 1982. At last he could give full vent to his history research while also volunteering with local Peace Action groups and Binghamton Presbyterian Church.

Bob is survived by his wife of 32 years, Anne Boyer Cotten, six children, and six grandchildren. To all, we extend our sincere sympathy.

The Class of 1939