Prof. George Cobb killed in motorcycle crash

Sorry this is a bit late, but I did not think of posting it here until today. If you knew George well enough to mourn his passing, there will be a combination wake and memorial service at Finnegan's Wake on Sunday, March 16, at 3:00 PM. I hope that takes the edge off of what will be a sad Monday morning when I walk past his empty office.

Some of the students in the club may have had George for precalc or algebra, and I am pretty sure some of our club members are currently in one of his classes. If you want a different perspective on George than what you saw in class, you should read a column in the Tallahassee Democrat by local runner Gary Droze. George ran the 800 m in college at Auburn and was still an active runner in triathalons in his 60s. He also loved riding the Kawasaki motorcycle he was on when he died.

I will remember a teacher committed to excellence. Students who came out of his classes were generally well prepared to succeed in physics (even if they still did not remember how to solve log problems). I don't think a day went by that he was not thinking about a way to get his students involved in learning the math they would need to reach their career goals.

Obituary from the Tallahassee Democrat:

George Leslie Cobb Jr.
George Leslie Cobb Jr. George Leslie Cobb Jr. of Tallahassee, died Sunday, March 9, 2008, from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident. A celebration of George's life will be at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday, March 16, at Finnegan's Wake, 1122 Thomasville Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Stanislaus College, Attn: Michael Reso, 304 S. Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, MS 39520. He was born Sept. 24, 1944. A graduate of Auburn University, he was a math professor at Tallahassee Community College and an avid runner, cyclist and motorcyclist. Survivors include his parents, George and Dorothy Cobb of Southern Pines, N.C.; a sister, Jan Cobb of Fayetteville, N.C.; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Susanne Cobb of Charlottesville, Va.; a daughter, Dominique Clothiaux of Moscow, Idaho; and a special friend, Missy Andric of Tallahassee, Fla.
Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 3/14/2008.