Thomas C Cochran Jr., MD.

Thomas C. Cochran, Jr., MD Eminent Boston plastic surgeon dies at 89 after a courageous struggle with declining health. A longtime resident of Dedham, Osterville and Boston, He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Kathleen, his children Christine McGrail (Jim), Stephen (Katie), Diana Knightly (Todd), and daughter-in-law Sarah (Scottie) Cochran; his sister, Lois Sullivan, and brothers Paul and David, He was Grandpop to his 13 beloved grandchildren Carolyn, Natalie, Christopher & Jennifer McGrail, Jimmy, Julia, Calvin & Lizzie Cochran, Tyler, Dylan & Peyton Knightly, and Page and Hilary Cochran. In addition, he leaves many nieces and nephews and dear friends. He is predeceased by his parents Thomas C. and Dorothea K. Cochran of Wellesley and Osterville and his son Thomas C. Cochran III of Westwood and Osterville.

Born in Natick, he grew up in Wellesley where he excelled in academics and athletics. He graduated from Harvard College Class of 1958, where he was a mainstay on the Varsity Swim Team. He then attended NYU Medical School.

After medical school he trained in general surgery on the Harvard Surgical Service at Boston City Hospital with a two-year interruption via the draft into the US Army with time spent at Walter Reed and a brief stint in the 15th field hospital with the 82nd Airborne Division in Santo Domingo. Following general surgery, he trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and became board certified in both specialties. He returned to Boston and helped start a plastic surgery training program at Cambridge Hospital and the New England Deaconess and began a private practice in aesthetic surgery. In 1980, he co-founded the first free standing ambulatory center in the city (and second in the state) which contained his office and operating rooms on Commonwealth Ave in Boston's Back Bay (The Boston Center).

In December 2014, he closed his private practice and took a part-time teaching position at Massachusetts General Hospital running the cosmetic surgical clinic and helping the sixth-year plastic surgical residents with cosmetic surgery operations. With the onset of Covid in 2020, he took on an Emeritus position and stopped operating with the residents but continued to selectively teach and attend conferences. He received the Harvard Plastic Surgery Training Program Teaching Award in 2011 and 2020 for his dedication, commitment and teaching the Harvard Plastic Surgery Residents. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School Emeritus.

After retiring from private practice, he and Kathy loved spending more time on the Cape while he continued to volunteer his time weekly at Shriners Hospital for Children and teaching cosmetic surgery to the chief residents at MGH, which he continued until his hospitalization- a reflection of his life-long love of his profession.

He valued hard work and productivity, traits he lived by and instilled in his children and grandchildren, all of whom he was especially proud.

A patriot and a history buff, he greatly enjoyed traveling with his wife, Kathy, often to Normandy and especially to their beloved getaway, Paris. Considered the patriarch of his large extended
family, he was steadfastly loyal and always strived to maintain family traditions and connections. He loved hosting holiday family gatherings at his Dedham home and at The Country Club and greatly enjoyed socializing with his many friends at his social clubs including The Country Club, The Wianno Club, The Beach Club, and Mill Reef Club among others.

Visitation at St. Ignatius Church, 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA on Thursday January 22, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ignatius on Friday morning January 23, at 10:00 am followed by a burial at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Natick, MA. in lieu of flowers, and in honor of Dr. Cochran, whose strength, courage, and generosity have left lasting legacy, donations may be made to the Targeted Therapy for Acute Leukemia Fund (GR0218137) at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Center. This fund supports research in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), enhancing bold breakthroughs that improve treatment options and, ultimately, deliver safer and more effective therapies for patients.

Gifts can be made online at https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate or by mail to: MGH Development Office, Attn: Kasey Ahern, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114. Please write "Dr. Andrew Brunner – Fund: GR0218137" in the memo line. Your gift will carry forward Dr. Cochran's spirit and his deep commitment to helping others.

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