La Grande, Oregon
John Logan Cobb, 71, who taught voice and conducted choirs at Eastern Oregon University for 30 years, died July 4 in Portland from complications due to pneumonia. A celebration of life in music and words will begin at 2 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Portland First United Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome.
Dr. Cobb was born Sept. 25, 1934, to John Lewis and Marguerite Weber Cobb in Rochester, N.Y. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at Illinois Wesleyan University, a master’s at Indiana University and a doctorate at the University of Oregon. He taught music in Illinois public schools before moving to La Grande in 1960 to teach and conduct at Eastern Oregon College.
For the next 30 years, he taught voice, developed and conducted choral programs at the college and in the community, adjudicated regional and state music events and performed as a tenor soloist.
He sang in the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, was a founding member of the Male Ensemble Northwest and conducted and sang in several church choirs.
He retired in 1991 and moved to the Portland area. He continued solo work, adjudicating occasionally and was a member of the choir at Portland First United Methodist Church.
In October 2004 he was a guest conductor at the Eastern Oregon University 75th Celebration Concert. He enjoyed playing golf, reading and traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; children, Laura C. Stewart, Katherine Carter and John P. Cobb; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Jean LaCamera of Hamden, Conn., and Marguerite Loy of New Port Richey, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a fund for the restoration of the music room at Hot Lake Springs Resort in his honor. Checks may be sent to John Cobb Music Room Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 220285, Milwaukie 97269.
The Observer Online-Obituaries for the week ending July 29, 2006, Published: August 1, 2006