Obituary of Nancy Pauline Leonard Cochran

Nancy Pauline Leonard Cochran, a resident of Nyack, NY passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at Waveny Care Center in New Canaan, CT with her two daughters at her side. Born of full Norwegian descent on May 19, 1933 in Seattle, WA, she was the daughter of the late Charles P. Leonard and Emilie H. Pitman. Nancy graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle, WA in 1952, the University of Washington in 1956 and received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University in 1973. She completed her postdoctoral training at Northwestern University. Nancy was a gym teacher and dance instructor, worked for Cochran Electric, and was a professor at Northwestern University. The last chapter of her life focused on building Nyack Database Technologies, a successful search design company with multiple U.S. patents. Nancy is survived by two daughters, Sandra J. Henke of Grafton, WI and Megan C. Pryor of Darien, CT; her former husband Robert L Cochran of Seattle WA; five grandchildren: Theresa Muench, Grant Henke, Justin Pryor, Lauren Pryor and Mitchell Pryor; and three great grandchildren: Graham Henke, Clara Henke and Olivia Muench. She is also survived by a half-sister, Pennington Geis of Hatfield, MA and predeceased by a half-sister, Sue Jones. Nancy was ahead of her time and pushed the limits of what was expected from a woman of her generation. She raised two daughters while earning her PhD and thrived on an entrepreneurial spirit that led her in many unique directions. In addition to her work, she enjoyed her grandchildren, her cats, a long walk, and a hot cup of coffee or cold beer on her porch overlooking the Hudson River. Nancy believed strongly that life is a gift from all who lived before her and that her influence lives on in those she was close to. To celebrate her life and fierce independence, we will be honoring her wishes privately. We will miss her. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer Research. <a href="https://www.alzinfo.org/memory-wall/nancycochran/" target="_blank">Fisher Center for Alzheimer Research</a>