Anthony David Cobourn

On June 16, 2020, Anthony David Cobourn, a loving husband, and father, passed away at age 79.

Tony was born on October 5, 1940, in Syracuse, NY to Raymond and Margaret Cobourn. He grew up in Baldwinsville, NY with his sister Margaret. He served in the New York State National Guard from 1959 to 1965 and was a proud alumnus of Hamilton College in Clinton, NY where he was initiated into Delta Upsilon Fraternity and graduated with an AB in Economics in 1963. That same year, he married Edith Riggs Cobourn, his partner, and best friend for the last 56 years. They raised three children, Jennifer, Andrew, and Elizabeth, and are the proud grandparents of Christopher, Anna, Jameson, Ruby, Samuel, Henry, and Margaret.

Tony spent most of his professional career with IBM where he focused on Personnel Management, Recruiting, and Employee Relations. After his retirement from IBM in 1993, he worked for the State of Georgia as a Management Trainer and finished his career as Vice President of Human Resources at Metro Health Corporation in Roswell, GA.

A lover of music, prose, and poetry, Tony was an avid writer and lyricist. He taught classes on memoir writing, wrote and performed songs at each of his children’s weddings, and published Seasoned Greetings, which chronicles his family’s journey through three decades of humorous Christmas letters. He also sang in the choir and founded a Folk Mass Group at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Roswell, GA where he was a longtime member.

Tony loved cooking. He made ice cream, his own salad dressings, and barbecue sauces, and was famous amongst friends and family for “Anthony’s Premium Fudge” which he made, packaged, and gave as gifts during the holidays. He was also known for his quick wit, bad puns, and compassionate counsel.

After 37 years in Roswell Georgia, Tony and Edith relocated to Bainbridge Island WA in August of 2019. Tony was preceded in death by his father, Raymond, and his mother, Margaret. He is survived by his wife Edith, his children Jennifer Tse of Sierra Madre, CA, Andrew
Cobourn of San Jose, CA, Elizabeth Joss of Bainbridge Island, WA, his sister Margaret Robinson of Myrtle Beach, SC, and seven marvelous grandchildren.

Gifts in Tony’s memory may be made to black2thefuture.org.


Arrangements are entrusted to the Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, Wa.