Ellicott City is mourning the loss of former Howard County Executive Dr. Edward Cochran, who passed away at the age of 96 over the weekend. As reported by FOX Baltimore, a scholar and servant to his community, Dr. Cochran’s life is being celebrated for numerous contributions spanning chemistry, education, and public service.
Born in 1929, Cochran moved to Howard County in 1956 with his wife Joan after their meeting in graduate school at Notre Dame and St. Mary's College in Indiana, he made his mark in the field of chemistry at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where he specialized in chemical kinetics, magnetic resonance, radiation chemistry, and photochemistry and published extensively in the field, according to Howard County officials. In addition to his scientific pursuits, he was instrumental in the establishment of Howard Community College and later served as its first Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1967 and returned as a trustee from 1989 to 1991. His foray into politics saw him elected as Howard County's second County Executive in 1974, a tenure preceded by two terms in the County Council starting in 1968.
Dr. Cochran was held in high regard for his humanitarian contributions, and, according to WMAR-2 News, he was a "cherished patriarch" who left behind "a legacy of kindness, wisdom, and unwavering dedication." His achievements garnered him the Howard County Human Rights Award in 2004, reflecting his commitment to community well-being.
He is survived by a legacy not only of public service and intellectual endeavors but also a personal one, including six children, among whom is a current Delegate, indicating the continuation of a tradition of civic engagement in the Cochran family.
Plans for honoring Cochran’s life have been arranged with a funeral mass on Friday, November 20, and a Celebration of Life event on Saturday, November 21.
