Obituary: William Cowan, Former Ossining Resident

From the family

William Cowan, born 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, died of pneumonia December 8, 2021 at CVPH Sub-Acute Rehab in Plattsburgh NY. "Bill" was the oldest son of Donald and Helen Cowan. He was pre-deceased by his youngest brother, Hugh, his sister, Anne, and his first wife, the former June Thompson. He is survived by his younger brother, Ross, his wife, Lisa Gibson, daughters Kathen, Jennifer and Christina, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

One year before entering the Navy during WWII (July 1944), Bill attended the highly unusual college, Deep Springs, in the California desert. There, he was encouraged to follow one of the school’s major principles, public service to community, and consequently became involved with many non-profit organizations. In early 1947, after graduating from Harvard courtesy of the Navy, he lived in war-torn France doing relief work until autumn, 1948. He then earned a Masters Degree at Cleveland’s Western Reserve University.

(Although Bill was grateful for all his educational opportunities, he regarded Deep Springs as a seminal experience in his life. He remained very involved with Deep Springs, both fundraising, and acting as 1943 class chair.)

He was recalled for military duty in 1952 and served two years during the Korean War. In 1958, accepting the job of Assistant Director of the Salzburg Seminar, he moved to Austria with his wife and two daughters. Upon returning, they lived briefly in Pelham Manor before settling down, now with a third daughter, in Ossining, NY. There, he was a dedicated member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for almost 50 years, singing in the choir and at various times taking on the duties of vestry warden, Sunday school supervisor, and treasurer.

Bill worked for many years as Managing Editor and then Editorial Vice-president at Oceana Publications in Dobbs Ferry. However, during a meeting held by Pete Seeger for the start of the Clearwater Sloop effort, Pete paired Bill with another publishing executive, Jack Rynerson, saying he wanted a “Souvenir Booklet” for a fundraising event. After Bill and Jack produced it, Pete then wanted a second book, one with the songs of the Clearwater. At that point, Bill and Jack started their new publishing company, North River Press, Inc. with Songs and Sketches of the First Clearwater Crew.

Bill was a political activist, wholeheartedly believing in service to community. To that end he was involved in the Liberal, and then the Working Families Party. He also served for four years as Board Chair of IFCA, a local housing organization in Ossining, and was helpful in the founding of other good organizations such as Job’s Refuge and the Ossining Food Pantry.

Bill sold his part in North River Press to his partner Larry Gadd in 1991. (Jack had died in 1982.)
He moved to Plattsburgh with his wife, Lisa, in 2011, where he continued to be active in the Working Families Party, People for Positive Action, UnderCurrents newspaper, and the Lake Forest community.

Because of deteriorating physical health as well as mild dementia, he moved in mid-November 2020, to an assisted-living facility, Pine Harbour, just around the corner from where Lisa continued to live at Lake Forest. An easy 5-minute walk for her, and a great staff at Pine Harbour to take care of him as needed.

A memorial service will be planned for him in Ossining sometime in May, 2022.

If you want to send a remembrance of Bill, your kind words are more than enough—but in lieu of flowers if you wish to do more, donations in his memory may be made to Deep Springs, either online at https://www.deepsprings.edu/donate/, or by mail to: Deep Springs College, HC 72, Box 45001, Dyer, NV 89010. Or to St. Paul’s Church (which will formally unite with Trinity Episcopal Church in January 2022 to become Grace Church, Ossining.) Or to a charity of your choice.

Bill was greatly respected, admired, and loved by his family and friends. He is greatly missed.