John Iverson Cobb III

John Iverson Cobb III

John Iverson Cobb III was born to John I. Cobb, Jr. and Frances Lee Cobb on February 9, 1938 at his grandparent's home in Marianna, Florida.

He died peacefully at HarborChase Memory Care facility in Tallahassee, Florida on February 17, 2015 from complications of Lewy Body Dementia/Parkinson's Disease.

John grew up in Tallahassee, attended the old Sealey Elementary School and graduated with honors from Leon High School in 1956. John then attended Florida State University, graduating Cum Laude in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physics. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1966 with a thesis in Multi-Dimensional Topology.

He taught at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey before moving to the University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho in 1969. He enjoyed teaching calculus and topology, and published several research articles on topology. After retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2006, he divided his time between his homes in Moscow and Tallahassee. He regularly attended the Friday Math Seminar in Moscow which would meet in a local bar then go out to dinner, and he founded a Friday Seminar in Tallahassee.

John had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed hiking in the Rockies. He was a member of the Audubon Society and brought his interest in birding to his entire family. He canoed on our local springs and rivers and trudged happily around the St. marks Wildlife Preserve, often with a sibling or two in tow. He enjoyed sailing and survived the dismasting of the SV Runaway in good spirits as able crew. (Thanks, Bro) He loved collecting old books on a broad range of subjects, the more obscure the better, and was an avid reader of history. He knew every answer on any crossword puzzle and never mixed up those confusing European rivers! He was a fan of FSU football.

He is survived by his siblings: Lee Lee Arnold, Zach Cobb (wife Sandy), and Kathy Cobb; his nephew, Kent Arnold (wife Lisa, son Dylan, and stepchildren Travis, Priscilla, Miranda, Trey and Lindsay); his niece Patti Lee Arnold Phillips (husband Matt, son Kyle and daughter Lauren Lee). We miss him. John will also be remembered with love by an extensive family of cousins and his long-time friends in Idaho and elsewhere.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the staff at HarborChase Memory Care facility and A&W Companion Services for their care and kindness during his illness. Thanks also to Big Bend Hospice.

A graveside service will be held at 2PM Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Audubon Society, Doctors Without Borders, or a charity of your choice.