Richard Cobden

1941 - 2025

Richard Cobden, MD, died peacefully surrounded by family on Oct. 1, 2025, in Cottonwood, Arizona, following a stroke.
Born June 26, 1941, in Berkeley, California, he was the son of Harry and Mary Margaret Cobden. His father combined careers as a rancher, lawyer, and engineer, while his mother - an accomplished painter educated at UC Berkeley - nurtured in him a lifelong love of art, faith, and nature. Together they instilled in their three children a lively curiosity and intellect that shaped Richard from an early age.
He attended the School of the Madeleine in Berkeley and Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, where his Jesuit education fostered discipline and respect for scholarship through rigorous study of Latin and Greek. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and, in 1967, graduated from the USC School of Medicine (now the Keck School of Medicine).
During medical school, a classmate recalled that although Richard often appeared to be asleep in lectures, he always answered intelligently when called upon - an early sign of his sharp mind and quiet confidence.
Before earning his board certification in orthopedics, Richard completed a medical residency in Edinburgh, Scotland, working with children affected by thalidomide, and later served as a professor at UC Davis and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
In 1971, Richard married Julie McEwan, and together they moved to Nevada City, California, where he founded an orthopedic practice and they raised their family.
Colleagues described Richard as a "quintessential rugged individualist," devoted to his patients and his craft. In 1994, he moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, after being recruited by Tanana Valley Clinic. Several years later, he opened Fairbanks Orthopedic Center, where he treated countless patients with skill and compassion. He later served as Chief of Staff at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for eight years and was widely respected for his leadership and dedication to excellence in care.
In Fairbanks, he met pharmacist Laura Murphy, who worked in the same medical complex. They married and shared 11 years of mutual support before Laura's death from breast cancer in 2007. Her children fondly remember his enormous greenhouse, his reading of Harry Potter stories aloud, and his love of watching the aurora from their deck.
Richard's enthusiasm for nature extended beyond Alaska to his beloved ranch near Truckee, California, where he spent many memorable years with family and friends. He later donated much of the property to a local land trust, ensuring its beauty would be preserved for generations to come. His ashes will be scattered there.
After Laura's passing, Richard married Carone Sturm, whom he met while treating her young son Jojo for osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle-bone disease). Together they helped pioneer a therapy that benefited other children in Alaska and was ultimately adopted by Shriners Children's Hospital.
Carone later introduced Richard to the beauty of Arizona, and the two enjoyed many wonderful years exploring the red rocks of Sedona. Even in retirement, Richard continued part-time orthopedic work in both Alaska and Arizona, including service at Whiteriver Indian Hospital, where he was honored to care for members of the Native American community.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Mary Margaret Cobden; his sister, Elena Cobden; and his second wife, Laura Cobden.
He is survived by his former wives, Julie Cobden and Carone Cobden; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Linda Cobden; his children, Cameron Cobden, Michael Cobden, and Amy Cobden; nephew, Kevin Cobden; stepchildren, Christopher Forbes, Megan Murphy McKay, Sara Murphy Parayno, Jacie Sturm, Joel Sturm, and Annie Sturm; and grandchildren, Robert Milspaugh, Max Milspaugh, Charley Cobden, Luna Cobden, Leo Cobden, Laurel McKay, Avery Parayno, Amity Parayno, Reed Stugart, and Cash Stugart.
Richard's life and relationships were rich and complex, and he leaves behind a legacy of love, grace, and generosity. Family and friends are profoundly thankful for the time they shared with him.
A Memorial Mass for Richard will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2025, at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Fairbanks.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders in Richard's memory.