class notes
Cochran leaves behind science legacy
The sudden and unexpected loss of Dr. Phil Cochran ’77, biology professor and department chair on the Winona Campus, left a tremendous void at Saint Mary’s. His legacy lives on in his work and in the memories he has left behind. Cochran, 59, died March 4, 2015, after a brief illness. To those who knew him best, he was many things. A rugged outdoorsman, Dr. Cochran could frequently be found catching fish on the Mississippi River, trapping bullsnakes in the Weaver area, or relocating rattlesnakes who innocently slithered into Winona-area backyards. But Dr. Cochran was no less the gentle and loving husband, father, and grandfather who relished having his young granddaughters sleep peacefully on his chest. An avid and accomplished researcher, Dr. Cochran was never one to boast, despite being published hundreds of times on topics ranging from lampreys and rattlesnakes to wood turtles, mudpuppies, and parasitic catfish. He also co-authored a book about the fishes of Wisconsin, was active in numerous professional organizations, and regularly presented papers at conferences across the U.S. and Canada. To those who played noon pick-up ball with him in the Saint Mary’s gym, he was a basketball enthusiast with a wicked hook shot who wasn’t above a little good-natured trash talk, all delivered with a sly smile. To his college buddies and fellow GOOF (Get-together Of Old Friends) members he was “Carrot,” a treasured friend and occasional prankster, full of quick and witty one-liners camouflaged beneath an otherwise calm and quiet exterior. Robert “Bo” Rettig ’77 met Cochran in 1973 on the basketball courts. He and “Carrot” (nicknamed for the reddish tinge of his once uniquely fashioned Fu Manchu mustache) were roommates twice at Saint Mary’s and remained close for 42 years. “One night (in college) I awoke to thumping in a desk drawer,” Rettig said. Cochran’s response was, “Oh, that’s a box turtle for my Animal Collection and Preservation Class. I had a blue racer snake in there last night, but you couldn’t hear him.” “Between the animals and basketball clothes drying on the radiator, we did not have many visitors,” Rettig joked. “Carrot was protective, honorable and principled on the court and off,” Rettig added. “After being KO’d in a game, I woke up to hear him going after (the other guy), yelling, ‘He’s only a little kid!’” To the students Dr. Cochran taught since he joined the Saint Mary’s Biology Department in 2000, he was an inspirational mentor, teacher, and researcher. And he did it all with humor. For instance, he would offer the “giant stapler” (aka paper shredder) to students turning in
thick thesis research projects. Or, he would host edible finals, during which he cooked a variety of fish for his students and then questioned them extensively about their meals. Scott Malotka ’14 credits Dr. Cochran as being his biggest mentor, who encouraged him to study environmental biology. “He made you know your stuff in a fun way,” Malotka said. “His tests would sometimes have ‘Star Trek’ references and were always good for a few good puns. But he made you want to seek out the answers. “He was so committed to giving every student field experience in one form or another,” he said. During his four years, Malotka was able to work beside Dr. Cochran in researching lampreys in Indiana and bullsnakes near Weaver. It was Dr. Cochran’s reverence for nature that often struck him as they’d frequently stop to silently admire the beauty of nature. Malotka is currently attending graduate school, and hopes to follow in Dr. Cochran’s footsteps and teach ecology. “I remember that I told him that I had just taught my first lab, and Dr. Cochran said, ‘I’ve never taught a lab before; I’ve trained a couple of retrievers.’ I walked right into that one.” Ana Valenzuela ’14 added, “Dr. C was more than a professor to so many of us, and I can truly say he was not only my mentor, but my hero in the world of biology. “Saint Mary’s is the most wonderful place on earth, and I am so fortunate to have had Dr. C as my professor, adviser, internship supervisor, comedian, friend, mentor, and hero,” she said. “You know someone was truly a wonderful person, and the most decent of human beings, when you can’t stop smiling from the memories and crying from the loss at the same time.” As Brother William remarked in the announcement of Dr. Cochran’s death, “The tremendous loss of Dr. Phil Cochran is felt across this university and beyond. A renowned and highly published researcher, Phil made a huge impact in the fields of biology and ecology. We were blessed that Phil shared his knowledge, his kindness, and his humor with our students for 15 years, and for that we are grateful.” Cochran’s family includes his wife Michelle (Galles) ’79, M’05, M’13, C’07 and their children, Jennifer (Cochran) Biederman ’05, M’08, currently serving on the Saint Mary’s Alumni Board; Joseph ’00; Andrew ’03; Gus; and Jessica.≠ • To read his full obituary, go to www.winonapost.com/ Obituaries/Archives/ArticleID/43133/Cochran-Philip-A • Stories and memories of Dr. Cochran can be submitted online at smumn.edu/memoriesofphil. • Donations in his memory are being directed to the Saint Mary’s science initiative online at smumn.edu/ memorialgift. Or, mail checks to Saint Mary’s University, 700 Terrace Heights #21, Winona, MN 55987 and designate “Phil Cochran memorial” in the memo line. smumn.edu/magazine
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