Jonathan Charles Cofer

Jonathan "Jon" Charles Cofer, of State College, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, after a brave battle with illness. He had just celebrated his 79th birthday the week prior.
Born in Washington, D.C., on April 8, 1946, he was the son of the late Charles Norval Cofer and Justine Rooney. On January 5, 1981, he married the love of his life, Sylvia Therese Weilacher, who survives.
In addition to his wife of 43 years, Jonathan is survived by his son, Jonathan Charles Cofer, Jr., and his wife Stacy of Pittsburgh; his brother, Thomas Cofer and wife Jan Hallick of Torrance, CA; his stepmother, Lynette Cofer; and his beloved grandchildren, Benjamin "Ben" Cofer and Hadley Marie Rice, who brought him endless joy.
Jon was a kind, modest, and clever fellow with an irrepressible love of learning. He had a deep passion for languages, earning his M.A. in Slavic Languages from Penn State University. He studied Serbo-Croatian, Russian, Italian, and most recently, French. His love for language and culture took him on trips to Ukraine and Croatia, including one in which he made a film for Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. He also volunteered tutoring international students in English, always eager to share what he knew and learn from others. Throughout his life, Jon wore many professional hats-each reflecting a broad and curious mind. He translated Russian, advised school districts on computer systems, and directed Penn State's Agricultural Learning Center.
He worked construction, drove a cab, worked at RadioShack, and built a respected videography business, filming over 100 weddings and many local events. He also volunteered for C-NET, filming local programs and events, and was honored as CNET Volunteer of the Year. In recent years, he produced videos for both Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and private clients, highlighting everything from family milestones to local personalities.
Jon's talents extended far beyond the academic and technical-he was a gifted musician. He played guitar daily and never lost his love for music. In his younger days, he was the lead electric guitarist in local bands including The Gambler Band and Firestorm. Over the years, he added the dobro, mandolin, and most recently, the violin-teaching himself to play it at the age of 77. Until the end, he played guitar in the music ministry at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.
He was a man of quiet generosity and integrity. He would help anyone in need and never spoke ill of others. He approached life with humility, wit, and curiosity-tackling big challenges, like tripling the size of his home or maintaining a rugged two-acre property, by simply learning from books and trying things himself. Jon will be missed for his reliable stream of quips and sharp sense of humor, as well as how he often tossed out lines from his favorite movies such as Caddyshack or Local Hero.
In his youth, he set a record for hurdling while at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School-an accomplishment he was quietly proud of throughout his life.
He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, where a funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2025, officiated by Father George Jakopac. The church is located at 820 Westerly Parkway, State College.
Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. in St. Catherine Cemetery, DuBois.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Salesian Missions at donate.salesianmissions.org, a cause reflecting Jon's lifelong belief in education, compassion, and service to others.
Jon will be deeply missed-for his music, his quiet wisdom, his boundless curiosity, and his unwavering kindness.