by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Art Cobb was a man about-town. It was a rare day he would not be seen driving around Cobden.
That driving around came to an abrupt halt when he died Saturday, Nov. 26. His son Jim said he died in his sleep, probably about 2:30 a.m.
Mr. Cobb grew up in Cobden, left when he needed work, and returned in 1987 to retire with his wife Beverley and two of his four children, Paul and Annie (Maryann). His other two children, Larry and Jim, were adults and on their own.
Mr. Cobb quit high school in Grade 10 and got a job at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Fort Coulonge as a teller.
“He was 17 when he began his career with the bank,” Jim said.
He left the bank and went to work at Playtex in Arnprior. After marrying, his work included being an insurance salesman and selling used cars. Eventually, he returned to the banking career, this time with Toronto Dominion in Ottawa and then moving to Brockville, Cobourg, St. Catherines, Kitchener-Waterloo and then Port Colbourne, where he retired in 1987.
“He preferred to work where he had immediate contact with people,” Jim said.
A father of four, and grandfather to seven, he and Beverley celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this past June. While he grew up in Cobden, Beverley grew up in Montreal and they met while working at the Playtex plant in Arnprior.
Mr. Cobb was well-known in Cobden because of his community work, including being a council member. He had also been on council while working in Cobourg.
“He was on council for just over 25-years plus between Cobourg and Whitewater,” Jim said.
Recalling their younger days, sons Paul and Jim said he was a great dad.
“When we hunted and fished or something like that, he played the part of father, friend and older brother,” Jim said.
One thing about Mr. Cobb many people will remember is his acerbic sense of wit and his love for Cobden, Jim said.
“His bark was much worse than his bite, but he always went to great pains to make people feel welcomed,” he said.
Which is no surprise, since the Cobden Tourist Booth was a large part of his life.
“His number one in his heart was the tourist booth,” Jim said. “He had a desire to see Cobden stay on its feet.”
Paul added, “Council, infrastructure, fire department, tourist booth, equipment, training, and all that, was important to dad.
“These were his outlets to interacting with people.”
While Paul and Jim can’t remember when exactly the tourist booth became very important to Mr. Cobb, they both agreed it’s been many years. He was proud of the tourist booth and its volunteers, Jim said.
Paul recalled that each year a group of Italians from Toronto would travel to the area and spend an afternoon at the park visiting, playing bocce ball and eating.
“He always looked forward to that,” he said. “He even brought in an Italian flag to fly when they were here.”
The sons admit they are honoured the large Canadian flag at the park was lowered to half-staff following his father’s death.
“That was very, very nice,” Jim said.
Paul added, “It was well-deserved with the service he has provided to his community.”
Dean Sauriol, former Chief Administrative Officer for Whitewater Region, said, “It’s stationed in a place where this gentleman spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort into it.
“I think it’s an honour and a tribute to him.”
Along with being a former council member, Mr. Cobb was also a member of the Cobden Legion, Branch 550, a former Civitan member, was involved with community policing, the recreation committee, the seniors games and was a driver for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Of most importance to Mr. Cobb, was Cobden.
“He did not want to see Cobden lose its identity,” Jim said.
And up until the day he died, Mr. Cobb could be seen driving in town.
“He loved to drive around,” Jim said. “It kept him up to speed on what was happening.”
But, age and health issues were going against him, Paul said.
“Last winter was tough for him,” he said.
Jim said when he saw his father in bed Saturday morning, he knew he was at peace. He was laying on his side with one hand under his cheek and another in the crook of his arm and the cat was sleeping beside him.
“He went peacefully, there was no pain on his face,” Jim recalled.
Sunday afternoon, while watching the Grey Cup game, Jim said he would look over at his dad’s chair to say something and then realize he was gone. He can recall watching many football games over the years with the family and at least once during each game, one of his father’s slippers would be tossed through the air at the television.
“He never hit it, but he did throw it,” he said.
Paul added, “I had a slipper ready to throw on Sunday.”
Mr. Sauriol was saddened to hear about his death.
“He was a mentor of mine,” he said. “He was a person who had a bark that was a lot bigger than his bite.
“He was a friendly, joking kind of guy who befriended a lot of different kind of people.
“In my case, I looked highly up to Art. He gave me an opportunity back in 1991 and I would say we got along very well.
“We fed off each other,” Mr. Sauriol said. “We worked together, but we also had lots of long conversations and I respected his opinion.”
Mr. Cobb was a community man with a passion for the tourist booth. He believes the park would not be what it is today if Mr. Cobb had not been a part of it.
“Whitewater benefitted a lot from that park,” he said. “Everybody knows about it. But Art was quite instrumental in getting the building done and keeping the park up.”
Mr. Cobb had many conversations with many people from all over the world at the park, Mr. Sauriol said.
Mr. Cobb was involved in a lot of things but would not take front and centre, he recalled. He was vocal and forthright, and if he disagreed with you, he let you know, but then it was done and over with.
“Before the two of you would leave, he’d be joking with you,” Mr. Sauriol said.
Mr. Cobb was a strong supporter of amalgamation, he recalled.
“A lot of them didn’t totally agree with the idea of amalgamation, but they liked the idea they were making their own destiny instead of the province forcing them to do it.”
But, even though the municipality was amalgamated, Mr. Cobb was a strong Cobden advocate.
“He was personable, approachable and everyone knew him.”
But, along with being a colleague, he was also a friend, Mr. Sauriol said.
“I really enjoyed his company,” he said, adding, “When I left Whitewater there was a lot of people I left there, and he was certainly one of them I left, for sure.”
Mr. Sauriol said, “He’d tell you he had a good life. He’d have a cigar up there watching the rest of us down here.”
Mr. Cobb is survived by his wife Beverley, children Larry (Elizabeth), Jim (Verna), Paul and Annie and 7 grandchildren. He was waked at Fraser, Morris and Heubner Funeral Home in Cobden and a funeral service was held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Cobden on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
