Michael COBDEN

Michael Cobden
77, died on December 24, 2017, leaving a community of adoring students, colleagues, caregivers, friends and family from around the world. Michael was a keen observer, intrepid reporter, sharp commentator, engaging storyteller, patient teacher, moral navigator, enthusiastic bridge player, encouraging mentor, loyal friend, loving brother, uncle, grandfather, father, husband. We miss him dearly.
Michael was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, son of Harry and Marsh Cobden. He attended Kingswood College, Grahamstown, and worked as a journalist for the Rand Daily Mail. He left South Africa for Canada and worked at the Toronto Star and the Kingston Whig-Standard, and then at the University of King's College where he was Director of the School of Journalism, during which time he served on many boards, spoke at many conferences, conducted many research and consultation projects, and wrote for the Halifax Chronicle Herald and the Daily News. After retiring, he led a project in journalism education for UNESCO, as well as writing a study for SSHRC on disseminating humanities research, and writing a biography of Simon Spatz, a Holocaust survivor. He taught at the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, India, and worked as a tutor in the Dalhousie Writing Centre and taught ESL at Dalhousie. He always fondly remembered his students.
Michael leaves his loved and loving wife, Jane; dear children, Josh (and Jennifer; and grandchildren, Jane and Livie), Joe, and Daisy (and Jordan McNeil); brother, David (and Lorraine); niece, Marsh (and Kevin); nephews, Richard (and Cathy), and Derick (and Angela) and all of their children; cousin, Sylvia Becker and her daughters, Janine, Rosalind and Valerie; Jane's sister, Rosamund (and Robert Storr and their children, Katharine and Susannah); and Jane's brother, David (and Elizabeth and their children, Nick and Alex and Alex's children); Jane's aunt, Libby Buchanan and her daughters, Lisa and Victoria and son, Jamie.
Michael was most grateful to the fine caregivers at the QEII Health Sciences Centre including Dr. Stephen Couban and the team at the Hematology Department; all the nurses in the Medical Day Unit for their care, warmth and good cheer over three years; the staff on the Hematology Unit on 8A; and the many wonderful people in Palliative Care.
All are welcome at a gathering to remember and celebrate Michael on Saturday, January 6, 2018, 2 p.m., Alumni Hall, University of King's College, 6350 Coburg Rd., Halifax. A celebration will be held in Toronto in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael's memory can be made to a charity of your choice.