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Jean Nelson Cochran, Vero Beach, Florida, formerly of Old Saybrook

Jean Nelson Cochran passed away peacefully on June 9, 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida. She was predeceased in 2007 by her husband of 61 years, John K. Cochran. Jean was born in New York City on January 22, 1922, the daughter of Arthur G. and Christine (Warner) Nelson. She grew up in Plainfield, NJ and graduated from The Hartridge School, Pine Manor College, and the Katherine Gibbs School. She met John at the engagement party of her best friend, Nan, to John’s older brother, Doug, in early 1942. They only had three dates before John departed with the Army Air Corps to North Africa and the War. Nevertheless, they became engaged on the night of his return in May of 1945 and were married the following week, in advance of what they believed to be his re-deployment to the Pacific front. Her professional life included several positions at the Plainfield Trust Company during the War and later as a research librarian at the Farmington Village Library.

Jean was very involved in Junior League, the Garden Club, and Pine Manor alumni affairs wherever they lived - in Wayne, PA, Rowayton, Farmington and Old Saybrook, CT, and ultimately in Vero Beach, FL. They had a large and close group of friends on land and on sea with whom they enjoyed sailboat cruising and traveling. Jean was known for her ability to organize anything. One friend tried to have the word “Cochranized” (meaning “very highly organized”) accepted by Webster’s Dictionary. She even once managed to arrange a quorum of the Old Saybrook Garden Club in March in Florida. Jean was a founding member (and chief librarian) of The Oak Harbor Club in Vero Beach and a long-time member of the North Cove Yacht Club and the Essex Yacht Club in CT.

She is survived by her daughter Christine and son-in-law Richard Tosi of Sanford, FL, and their sons Todd and Nikolas; and by her son William and his wife Maura Cochran of Hartford and Essex, CT.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County, Inc. at 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Her family extends great appreciation to the staff at Somerset House and the Oak Harbor Club for their years of tireless support, service, attentiveness and generosity.