C. HERBERT COCHRANE

GREENVILLE – C. Herbert Cochrane passed away Aug. 12, 2004, in Greenville. He was born Aug. 18, 1907, in Haverhill, Mass., the son of Perley Herbert Cochrane and Gladys Cecile (Walton) Cochrane. He developed a love for the outdoors when he grew up roaming the woods of nearby Groveland, where he also attended school. He met his wife Thelma when she was 13 and he was 15, they married in June 1929, celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. The loves of his life were Thelma, coaching young men, canoeing the Allagash, and his family. He graduated from Springfield College in 1929 and became a physical education teacher, coach, and athletic director. His first football coaching job resulted in the 1942 Connecticut State Championship for his New Britain High team. From 1948 to 1970, He was athletic director and coach at Avon Old Farms School, Avon, Conn. He was especially proud of his 1955 Avon team that captured the Connecticut Prep School football title. He retired to Greenville in 1970. In 1991, He was the first recipient of the Coaches Hall of Fame award from Avon Old Farms School. An avid outdoorsman, he spent his summers working with young people in camps and on canoe trips. Herb became a Maine Guide and led his first Allagash trip in 1941. From 1944-1948, he was the waterfront director at the Wassookeag School Camp, Dexter. In 1953, Herb founded Allagash Canoe Trips. Originally a six-week canoe trip in the Maine woods for teen boys, it is now a third generation guiding business. He continued to guide trips through 1979. Usually known simply as “Coach”, which he loved, he inspired several generations of athletes and canoe trippers with high ideals, sportsmanship, fairness, strong work ethic, and a will to achieve. To the end, he remembered and told stories about “his boys”. They remembered him too, several of whom wrote or visited him recently. Herb is survived by his beloved wife, Thelma (Fairbanks) Cochrane; and one son, Warren Sr. and wife, Linda, all of Greenville; one daughter, Viviane of Massachussetts; grandchildren, Arthur Geetersloh and wife, Susan, of Greenville, Lovercia, Priscilla Edwards, Warren Jr. and wife, Lani, of Carrabassett Valley, Tristan of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Erik and wife, Sarah, of Greenville; step-grandson, Eli Ward; and six great-grandchildren. In accordance with Herb’s wishes there will be no memorial service. A celebration of his life for family and friends will be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the C.A. Dean Ambulance Fund, nursing Home, or hospital in Greenville, or Allagash Alliance, RR 1, 35 Tall Pines, West Buxton, ME 04093. Arrangements by McCrory Funeral Home.