Comments on: In Memoriam: Dr. William “Jack” Coogan

By: Michael Bever

Michael Bever — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 21:20:44 +0000

I called Jack, Sensei. I do not remember when his voice wasn’t there. Truly a spiritual master of highest order.

This is what I learned from Jack over 50 years…

“Wait till I stop talking. Then you will hear me.”

“If you listen with your ears, you can’t understand.
When you hear with the eyes, then you’ll see directly.”

Zen Master Dongshan Liangjie (807-869)

By: Damian Geddry

Damian Geddry — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 22:33:29 +0000

Some of the best and most rewarding hours I spent at CST were in Jack’s Religion and Film classes. He taught us that religion, culture and art are perhaps the most honest and insightful voices of humanity. He struck me as a man with a fierce gentleness – the kind that makes you stop and pay attention. Jack, I love you and miss you.

By: Sue Borrego

Sue Borrego — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 18:50:51 +0000

Jack was my neighbor. For the years we raised our kids and I worked in the yard he would always walk across the street to chat. He was kind, warm and supportive. My daughter and her family now live in our home and he would walk across to talk with my son-in-law. His gentle, warm presence will be missed!

By: Rev. Dr. N'Yisrela Cheryl Watts-Afriyie

Rev. Dr. N'Yisrela Cheryl Watts-Afriyie — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 23:50:14 +0000

When I read of Professor Coogan’s passing, memories rose up of his energy, easy-going manner, yet professional approach to his work and ministry. I recall his care of his mother. I believe he often rolled up to campus in a Volkswagen bus.

My appreciation of using film in preaching and teaching grew because of Jack Coogan. Shortly after graduating in 1992, I approached him about allowing our church to put on a Christmas musical, “Heaven Rejoices”, in Mudd Theatre. Our choir appreciated Professor Coogan’s support, assistance and gentle suggestions to make the performance memorable.

Like so many other students, Jack Coogan’s style of teaching, mentoring, humor and sincerity helped me to be better as a spiritual leader. Truly, Heaven is rejoicing as he joins the Church Triumphant.

By: George R Martzen

George R Martzen — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 04:11:29 +0000

I was saddened to hear of Dr. Coogan’s passing. I was influenced by him through worship class, singing in the chorale, and working in Mudd theatre, where he taught me how to run the projector for movie nights. I was not a film student, but I felt very encouraged by him to use all my abilities artfully. I will celebrate him with the communion of the saints.

By: Jane Brucker, CST MARA '91

Jane Brucker, CST MARA '91 — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 17:57:27 +0000

I attended CST beginning in 1989 as a master’s candidate in the seemingly unusual Religion and the Arts program. As a visual artist, going through a rough personal time, but having finished an MFA degree from the CGU, I was poised to explore the content of my work further. Jack was the perfect guide for this adventure. I both worked for him in the archives of the Robert and Frances Flaherty Study Center, and loved getting to sit up in the projection booth for theatre and film events. Mudd Theatre stage even became an exhibition space when I finished my thesis project “House of Hagar” a feminist interpretation of the Hebrew Bible narrative. The project included various sculptural constructions of a “house” and locations of “wilderness”. Who are we, where do we live? How do we find God? Where do we come from and where are we going? Jack let me go where my imagination (and drawing and building skills) could take me. He helped me to create a panel to publicly discuss the project with Karen Torjesen and James Sanders. The work included videos I made, and a commentary on the Gulf War. Jack influenced the content and technically assisted with the installation. He taught me how to edit film, and how to talk to myself when I was feeling overwhelmed by my desire to work hard and be perfect. One time, I went to his office because due to stressful personal issues I could not meet a class deadline. I explained to Jack why I needed more time to complete my work. He told me that was understandable, and that moving spiritual furniture around was no easy task and that indeed, it took time and thoughtfulness to get everything in just the right place. I will never forget his grace and wisdom. To this day, as an artist I create sculptural works in a series called “Spiritual Furniture” inspired by his words. When I think of Jack I see him looking as if he had just emerged from watching a good movie in a dark theatre. I have just moved my studio back to Claremont and was in touch with him a couple months ago making a post-pandemic plan to visit. I am so sad this will not happen now. I will miss his quiet reflections and his always positive encouragement.

By: Kent L. Kepler

Kent L. Kepler — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 01:30:34 +0000

Jack was both a classmate and a teacher of mine at SCT. He videotaped my wedding to fellow student, Virginia Stewart, the day after my graduation. He was so good at drawing out the best in people. I remember his working with a symphony orchestra that accompanied our chorus at a performance in Hollywood. He supplied technical analysis to the preaching classes under Dr. Edwards. He was also a good friend. I remember him fondly. God rest you , Jack.

By: Carolyn Bohler

Carolyn Bohler — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 23:50:23 +0000

During my time at Claremont I benefitted from Jack Coogan in numerous ways via the community he tended to create by being who he was so availably to others. Students were his colleagues… when one was “learning” was fuzzy… it was as much outside a “class” (which I never had, with him) as in. I tended to take visual arts more seriously, influenced by him. He taught by his being, it seemed.

By: Dr. Tom Albright

Dr. Tom Albright — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:33:34 +0000

In my four years of work at Claremont Jack broadened my vision through exposing me to film criticism, the music and theology of J. S. Bach, and created in my an enduring love of photography which has enriched my life deeply. Whether it was watching films in the first floor classroom or our field trip to a Hollywood studio to watch pre-released “Patton” with the director, or coaching me on using my voice in preaching, he because a beloved teacher and friend.

By: Dr. L. Arik Greenberg

Dr. L. Arik Greenberg — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:48:44 +0000

Dr. Jack Coogan was a mentor and a dear friend to me and many of my classmates throughout the nineties in particular. He was instrumental in housing the biblical comedy improv troop, Angelic Residue (founded by Jane Voigts and others among us) within our residency at the Mudd theater and helped further our presence as a piece of the CST landscape.

He gave a home and a place of belonging to those of us who worked at the Mudd Theater and in the Audio-Visual Department, teaching us about various technologies, old and new, that related to multi-media. He taught me the difference between XLR, RCA, and RF cables–and even how to fix them! Classmate and fellow Mudd worker Walter Mattingly and I were so enthralled by Jack’s interpersonal methodology that we began to call him the Patron Saint of Good Human Relations (perhaps prefiguratively echoing what Dean Suchocki has said in the article above, likening Jack to a saint!)

Jack taught me how to ride a motorcycle, and I remember numerous weekend afternoons, riding up and down Mount Baldy with him on his Honda 500. It was always enjoyable to spend time with Jack. He had a deliciously wry sense of humor that could spring up at any moment, and his overly erudite references to simple things (like spotted aspiditra plants) to elicit a laugh were a great influence on my own sense of humor.

It is with great regret that I was unable to keep in closer touch with him over the last few years. The funny and charming stories that I and many others have about Jack are too numerous to tell here, but will warm our hearts for decades to come. I could not imagine my experience at CST without Jack. Blessings upon his name and his memory. Blessings upon blessings. You will be missed, Jack.

Amen