For several years, Jack, or “Cos” as he was known by his fraternity buddies, used his well-worn canes to good avail. They helped reduce the back pain caused by psoriatic arthritis, which Jack battled throughout his adult life, and allowed him to maneuver around, as well as giving him a way to gesture and point at all the objects, both natural and man-made, which stimulated his insatiable curiosity. He loved the mountains, having gone on many camping trips with his children in his younger years, and, equally, loved art galleries, where he would sit in his wheelchair for long periods staring at a painting. Enthusiasm was Jack’s trademark.
Jack was one of the truly great people in the world. In fact, I can only think of one other person that I've met that included the same combination of brilliance, decency, loyalty, and a sincere curiosity for the people and world around him.
Either late last summer or early in the fall Jack called and left a message for my mother. The caregivers let me know that Jack had called and provided me with his number. I called him back and wwe chatted for a good 20 minutes. We had a good talk regarding Jennie and Russell, as well as his two grandsons. He asked about my wife and kids, too. We laughed about the camping trip we took to Marshall, along with Russell, many years ago. I feel fortunate I was able to have that one last conversation with him. Jack meant a great deal to me, and that last call gives me a sense of closure.
Growing up I was lucky to come into contact with some amazing people due to my father's Stanford and Wharton connections. However, Jack was always my favorite. The world is a smaller place without him, and he is just the type of person the world needs more of at this time.
Jack Cosgrove was a man whose knowledge, generosity and humor enriched all who knew him.
I knew him as the owner, with his wife Alice, of the Mansion at #3 Altree Court in Atherton. In the late 60s I briefly met Jack and Alice at their house near Peninsula School. Among the people who frolicked after hours at that beautiful old school grounds with it's huge rope swing were Andy Breffitt, Gordon Seagraves and Timas Samuelson, Alice's daughter.
After my sojourn on the East Coast selling art in Science Fiction conventions, I reconnected with Andy in October 1973 and he took me over to the Mansion where he was living. I met Jack and Alice there, and apparently made a good impression as I was offered a room on the Third Floor as someone else was then moving out. Over the next nine years I was to enjoy not only the founding of my art career there, I had the pleasure of many stimulating dinner discussions led by Jack.
Politics and news featured prominently in his table talk, but occasionally one of his legal cases would be the subject of discussion, with some of us being asked to think like a juror on this or that aspect of the case. Jack wore a beard and reminded me of a thin version of the famous portrait of Henry VIII. Once to cater to known prejudices of a judge he shaved off the beard, showing steadfast concentration on doing whatever he could to win the case.
His political savvy was only matched by his energy and drive. When President Nixon's 'enemies list' came to light Jack wrote him and asked to be placed on that list, that he pledged to do everything in his power to work against his political interests, and he cited some instances of Nixon's past bad behavior. A copy of his letter was pinned to a bulletin board downstairs.He was a Liberal Democrat in all its best connotations, always aware of the winds good and ill blowing across the land. In the years after the Mansion, we would occasionally talk of world events and politics, Jack always having insightful observations based on decades of attention.
When arch conservative Supreme Court judge Scalia died last year I called to relay the news and that made his day, prompting him into a discussion of the 'Scalawags', political profiteers of the Reconstruction era. One was likely to come away from a conversation with Jack the richer for it in knowledge.
He was generous not only with his wonderful home, but with the experiences he loved to share. A high point of my years there was a lengthy trip to Havasupi Canyon. Jack's children and their friends were there as was Andy and I, experiencing the red canyon walls, green trees, blue skies and vivid turquoise miniature fairyland waterfalls. His frequent trips across the world inspired me to travel, my 1980 Total Eclipse trip to India was my first such voyage.
An aspect I knew of only peripherally was Jack's devotion to football. He attended games, including some big ticket events. He waged nagging battles with physical problems which were faced with courage and endurance. Jack was attentive to politics to the last. As the first series of scandals emerged from the Trump Administration he explained things like the Emoluments Clause to me. His political advice was to by default vote the Democratic ticket, and unless there is good reason to do otherwise I intend to follow his advice.
I will always miss calling him up and getting his informed long view of the headlines. But his generosity and wisdom enriched my life in ways I shall always be grateful for, and his family has so much more to celebrate from their depth of sharing his life and wisdom.
Jack and I met at Webb School in 1947. I recall studying with him for the College Board exams. He was one of the smartest - he seemed to know all the answers. But beyond that I don't think I've ever known anyone with a more positive attitude about everything; he was always up even when he had ample reason not to be.
I have shared your note with Jack's good friend Hugh Evans. Jack and Hughie were fraternity brothers at Stanford. (Hughie is my brother-in-law, married to my sister, Lynn.) Jack and Hughie played varsity basketball together at Webb; we watched them and we watched Jack pitch varsity baseball.
Ann and I had dinner with Jack and Jennie, I believe it was last October, and we all enjoyed having her there.(Ann and I had met Jennie at Amherst at a DKE party, of all places!) The restaurant was the same one (in Menlo) where Ann and I had dined, perhaps 20 ears ago, with Jack and Chandler Flickinger. I roomed with Chan for 2 of 3 years at the law school. I believe Jack and Chan practiced law together.
I recall Jack was very involved in the felony voting issue, and I was, frankly, skeptical that perhaps it was a Bay Area liberal thing. But after Jack shared 2 or 3 of his briefs with me I realized that he was on the right side after all.
He was a star!
