James Dennis Cobb, born April 4, 1950, in Missouri, died at age 67 of influenza on January 10, 2018, in his longtime co-op apartment in Ridge Side Cooperative in the 800-block of Williamson Street, in the Marquette neighborhood on the south side of Madisons isthmus. His beloved wife, Angela Lobo-Cobb, who was born on April 2, 1950, in India, also succumbed to influenza a mere 8 days later;they had met when both came to the University of Wisconsin for graduate study and they married in 1975. Jim is survived by his brother, Andrew, of Missouri.
Jim graduated in 1968 from Odessa High School in Odessa, Missouri, and then studied history at the University of Missouri. He later came to study German literature at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, where he completed the Doctorate of Philosophy degree in 1980. His dissertation was written on educational reforms in non-Prussian universities of Germany during the period of 1797-1817, with much of the dissertation based on archival research conducted while he also studied history at the Philipps University in Marburg, Germany.
For over three decades Jim made his career as a budget and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Upon his retirement in 2012 from state service, he regularly taught classes as adjunct faculty with Cardinal Stritch University (located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
At his deepest core, however, Jim considered himself a military historian, especially of naval history, and he had a long parallel career as a freelance journalist and reviewer of personal computer games and of the predecessor board games; he also enjoyed attending and competing at conventions devoted to such games. Jim was a lover of the German 'gemuetlichkeit'; and was the possessor of one of the longest-held steins in the Essen Haus restaurant 'stein club.'; His German interest was displayed in the Prussian helmet topped by a pickelhaube (spike), which he kept on a bookshelf in his state officeit proved to be an instant conversation-starter upon meeting someone new.
Jim was a founding member of Ridge Side Cooperative, a co-op established in March 1982 by Common Wealth Development and the Madison Development Corporation, which joined together to rehab four notoriously run-down, absentee-landlord-owned buildings into an affordable housing co-op providing a total of nine apartments. Jim served as the co-op's treasurer from the very beginning, who produced a thirty-five-year-run of monthly financial reports for the co-op's board, who ably explained budgeting concepts in lucid terms for new co-op members, and, who skillfully negotiated mortgage updates as needed periodically.
Jim also contributed to Madison in a civic role beginning with his service as the first chair of the Madison Commission on People with Disabilities, when it was created in 1980. He later served on Madison's Transportation Commission (early 1990s), including a stint as chair. His most recent efforts were as a member of the city's Ethics Board (2014-2017). In addition, over the years he served on the boards of numerous area nonprofits and statewide councils relating to health and disabilities.
Jim met his life-long physical frailty with fortitude and grace. Jim had a remarkable intellect with a fierce spirit that long outdueled the physical odds stacked against him.
Jim graduated in 1968 from Odessa High School in Odessa, Missouri, and then studied history at the University of Missouri. He later came to study German literature at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, where he completed the Doctorate of Philosophy degree in 1980. His dissertation was written on educational reforms in non-Prussian universities of Germany during the period of 1797-1817, with much of the dissertation based on archival research conducted while he also studied history at the Philipps University in Marburg, Germany.
For over three decades Jim made his career as a budget and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Upon his retirement in 2012 from state service, he regularly taught classes as adjunct faculty with Cardinal Stritch University (located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
At his deepest core, however, Jim considered himself a military historian, especially of naval history, and he had a long parallel career as a freelance journalist and reviewer of personal computer games and of the predecessor board games; he also enjoyed attending and competing at conventions devoted to such games. Jim was a lover of the German 'gemuetlichkeit'; and was the possessor of one of the longest-held steins in the Essen Haus restaurant 'stein club.'; His German interest was displayed in the Prussian helmet topped by a pickelhaube (spike), which he kept on a bookshelf in his state officeit proved to be an instant conversation-starter upon meeting someone new.
Jim was a founding member of Ridge Side Cooperative, a co-op established in March 1982 by Common Wealth Development and the Madison Development Corporation, which joined together to rehab four notoriously run-down, absentee-landlord-owned buildings into an affordable housing co-op providing a total of nine apartments. Jim served as the co-op's treasurer from the very beginning, who produced a thirty-five-year-run of monthly financial reports for the co-op's board, who ably explained budgeting concepts in lucid terms for new co-op members, and, who skillfully negotiated mortgage updates as needed periodically.
Jim also contributed to Madison in a civic role beginning with his service as the first chair of the Madison Commission on People with Disabilities, when it was created in 1980. He later served on Madison's Transportation Commission (early 1990s), including a stint as chair. His most recent efforts were as a member of the city's Ethics Board (2014-2017). In addition, over the years he served on the boards of numerous area nonprofits and statewide councils relating to health and disabilities.
Jim met his life-long physical frailty with fortitude and grace. Jim had a remarkable intellect with a fierce spirit that long outdueled the physical odds stacked against him.
James Dennis Cobb, born April 4, 1950, in Missouri, died at age 67 of influenza on January 10, 2018, in his longtime co-op apartment in Ridge Side Cooperative in the 800-block of Williamson Street, in the Marquette neighborhood on the south side of Madisons isthmus. His beloved wife, Angela Lobo-Cobb, who was born on April 2, 1950, in India, also succumbed to influenza a mere 8 days later;they had met when both came to the University of Wisconsin for graduate study and they married in 1975. Jim is survived by his brother, Andrew, of Missouri.
Jim graduated in 1968 from Odessa High School in Odessa, Missouri, and then studied history at the University of Missouri. He later came to study German literature at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, where he completed the Doctorate of Philosophy degree in 1980. His dissertation was written on educational reforms in non-Prussian universities of Germany during the period of 1797-1817, with much of the dissertation based on archival research conducted while he also studied history at the Philipps University in Marburg, Germany.
For over three decades Jim made his career as a budget and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Upon his retirement in 2012 from state service, he regularly taught classes as adjunct faculty with Cardinal Stritch University (located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
At his deepest core, however, Jim considered himself a military historian, especially of naval history, and he had a long parallel career as a freelance journalist and reviewer of personal computer games and of the predecessor board games; he also enjoyed attending and competing at conventions devoted to such games. Jim was a lover of the German 'gemuetlichkeit'; and was the possessor of one of the longest-held steins in the Essen Haus restaurant 'stein club.'; His German interest was displayed in the Prussian helmet topped by a pickelhaube (spike), which he kept on a bookshelf in his state officeit proved to be an instant conversation-starter upon meeting someone new.
Jim was a founding member of Ridge Side Cooperative, a co-op established in March 1982 by Common Wealth Development and the Madison Development Corporation, which joined together to rehab four notoriously run-down, absentee-landlord-owned buildings into an affordable housing co-op providing a total of nine apartments. Jim served as the co-op's treasurer from the very beginning, who produced a thirty-five-year-run of monthly financial reports for the co-op's board, who ably explained budgeting concepts in lucid terms for new co-op members, and, who skillfully negotiated mortgage updates as needed periodically.
Jim also contributed to Madison in a civic role beginning with his service as the first chair of the Madison Commission on People with Disabilities, when it was created in 1980. He later served on Madison's Transportation Commission (early 1990s), including a stint as chair. His most recent efforts were as a member of the city's Ethics Board (2014-2017). In addition, over the years he served on the boards of numerous area nonprofits and statewide councils relating to health and disabilities.
Jim met his life-long physical frailty with fortitude and grace. Jim had a remarkable intellect with a fierce spirit that long outdueled the physical odds stacked against him.
Jim graduated in 1968 from Odessa High School in Odessa, Missouri, and then studied history at the University of Missouri. He later came to study German literature at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, where he completed the Doctorate of Philosophy degree in 1980. His dissertation was written on educational reforms in non-Prussian universities of Germany during the period of 1797-1817, with much of the dissertation based on archival research conducted while he also studied history at the Philipps University in Marburg, Germany.
For over three decades Jim made his career as a budget and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Upon his retirement in 2012 from state service, he regularly taught classes as adjunct faculty with Cardinal Stritch University (located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
At his deepest core, however, Jim considered himself a military historian, especially of naval history, and he had a long parallel career as a freelance journalist and reviewer of personal computer games and of the predecessor board games; he also enjoyed attending and competing at conventions devoted to such games. Jim was a lover of the German 'gemuetlichkeit'; and was the possessor of one of the longest-held steins in the Essen Haus restaurant 'stein club.'; His German interest was displayed in the Prussian helmet topped by a pickelhaube (spike), which he kept on a bookshelf in his state officeit proved to be an instant conversation-starter upon meeting someone new.
Jim was a founding member of Ridge Side Cooperative, a co-op established in March 1982 by Common Wealth Development and the Madison Development Corporation, which joined together to rehab four notoriously run-down, absentee-landlord-owned buildings into an affordable housing co-op providing a total of nine apartments. Jim served as the co-op's treasurer from the very beginning, who produced a thirty-five-year-run of monthly financial reports for the co-op's board, who ably explained budgeting concepts in lucid terms for new co-op members, and, who skillfully negotiated mortgage updates as needed periodically.
Jim also contributed to Madison in a civic role beginning with his service as the first chair of the Madison Commission on People with Disabilities, when it was created in 1980. He later served on Madison's Transportation Commission (early 1990s), including a stint as chair. His most recent efforts were as a member of the city's Ethics Board (2014-2017). In addition, over the years he served on the boards of numerous area nonprofits and statewide councils relating to health and disabilities.
Jim met his life-long physical frailty with fortitude and grace. Jim had a remarkable intellect with a fierce spirit that long outdueled the physical odds stacked against him.
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