We regret to inform you that retired partner and former managing partner of Hale and Dorr, John F. “Jack” Cogan, Jr., passed away on Friday, January 24, 2020, at the age of 93.
Jack joined Hale and Dorr in 1952. During his 47 years at the Firm, he served as chair of the corporate department, a longtime member of the executive committee, managing partner from 1976 to 1984 and chairman from 1984 to 1996.
In addition to his career at WilmerHale, Jack was also a leader in the financial services industry in Boston and beyond. In 1963, he led a group of investors in acquiring Pioneer Investment Management, which managed the Pioneer family of mutual funds. In his role as president of Pioneer, Jack was the architect of its global diversification strategy, which began in the 1980s with the formation of a gold-mining business in the Republic of Ghana. He also served as chairman of the Investment Company Institute (ICI) and for many years as a member of the board of governors and the executive committee of ICI.
A leader in the Boston business community and an ardent philanthropist, Jack was Emeritus Trustee of the Boston Medical Center, Chairman Emeritus of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Life Trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), where he served in many positions over 30 years. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005.
A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Jack was awarded the Harvard Medal in 2009 for extraordinary service to Harvard University.
Since he retired from the Firm in 1999, WilmerHale continued to play an important role in Jack’s life for more than 20 years. He was a regular visitor to the Boston office until late last year, attending partners’ lunches, inquiring about cases, clients and members of the WilmerHale community and offering many thoughtful suggestions on various aspects of the Firm and Firm life. He often expressed how extraordinarily proud he was of the firm WilmerHale had become.
These thoughts from BSO President and CEO Mark Volpe ring true for many who knew Jack: “He epitomized the term ‘counselor’ not only professionally in the law and finance, but in his passionate work on the Board [of the BSO]…. A soft-spoken man who conveyed incredible gravitas, [Jack] led by example, and when he talked, everyone listened. He encouraged those making significant decisions to ‘look in the mirror’ …. to ensure that they each understood their own responsibilities… All who knew him held him in high esteem and deep respect, both of which he earned and deserved through his beliefs and actions.”
Funeral services will be private for family. A memorial service will be held in the coming months, and we will provide any information we receive to the WilmerHale community.
Notes of condolence to the family may be sent to Jack’s wife, Mary Cornille, at the following address:
Ms. Mary L. Cornille
975 Memorial Drive #802
Cambridge, MA
02138-5755