John M. Cochran

John M. Cochran, resident of Levittown, with lifelong ties to the community, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2024, at the age of 64. He was born September 7, 1960 in the Delaware Valley, and lived a life devoted to his family.

John grew up in the area, graduating from Maple Point High School in 1978, where he participated in the chess team and Air Force ROTC, and formed lifelong friendships with his group of gaming buddies.

On June 20, 1987, he wed Denise Mary Cooper, going on to have three children, to whom he was deeply devoted. In 1994, he became a stay-at-home Dad, ensuring he passed on a love of sarcasm, trivia, Philadelphia sports, Monty Python, and “nerd shit.” 

John found joy in a variety of hobbies, many of which he passed along to his children, including gaming, reading, writing, and cooking. For many years, he spoke of his goal to write the “next great American novel,” working steadily on it, particularly in retirement. He found passion in language and literature, inspiring a fondness for reading and an appreciation for the importance of good grammar and precision of language - even if his kids didn’t appreciate it at the time. He was a fount of knowledge, his mind full of trivia and obscure details. He loved to watch Jeopardy with his children, and once auditioned to be a contestant, only removing himself from the contestant pool when his illness precluded participation. 

He had a great love for cooking and baking, taking particular pride in his well-loved and carefully perfected barbeque sauce. He also remarked on his delight at finding his children preferred his whole wheat bread for their school lunches over store-bought white bread. He could frequently be found watching cooking shows, for inspiration as much as entertainment.

John was a huge Philadelphia sports fan, passionately cheering for (or booing in admonishment at poor performance, as the case may often have been) the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers. Some of his eldest daughter’s earliest memories are of going to the Vet for Phillies games. He also took every chance he could to see the Phils and Eagles play at other stadia, always jumping at the chance to go catch a game with his daughters wherever they may be. And at least he was able to see the Eagles lose on Sunday, so they could let him down one last time.

He is survived, and will be deeply missed, by his family, to whom he devoted most of his adult life: his wife, Denise, and his children Christa (Richard), Kaitlyn (Matt), and Liara, as well as his beloved grandson, Calvin, who brought him immeasurable joy. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Diane (Bob), Jeanne (Dave), and Susan (Marc), and nieces Angel and Tiffany, as well as many grand- and great-grand-niblings, all of whom held a special place in his heart. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, James. J. Cochran and Lillian (Melvin) Cochran, as well as nephews David and Daniel.

Friends and family are invited to pay their respects during the visitation on January 4, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services in Morrisville, PA, 41 W. Trenton Ave., Morrisville, PA 19067. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM, with burial taking place at Morrisville Cemetery at 11:45 AM.

John M. Cochran will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and his memory will forever resonate in the hearts he touched throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Amyloidosis Research Consortium (arci.org).