William J. Cobham

William J. Cobham (Bill) of Punta Gorda, Florida and Moultonborough, NH passed away in St. Cabrini nursing home in Dobbs Ferry, New York on February 3, 2023. Bill was born in Jamaica, NY on November 27, 1936, the only child of Florence and William Cobham. After graduating from high school in Laurelton, NY Bill followed in his father's and uncle's footsteps before him and began a proud career in banking that spanned 25 years. His early days were spent working for the Bowery savings bank on the lower east side of New York City NYC, and later a beloved branch manager for Sunrise Federal Savings in Deer Park, NY, Bill was very well regarded by his managers and his customers alike. As a child, Bill vacationed with his parents in the cottages along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in Center Harbor. A lifelong love of the Lakes Region was born from this, and after many years of annual summers spent camping in Moultonborough, in 1980, Bill built a home and relocated with his wife Margie, and daughter Lorna, from Long Island NY Moultonborough. Having now left banking in NY, Bill worked in real estate, as both an appraiser and developer, as well as in the marine industry, including years spent as a ship's officer on the Mount Washington, where he was in all his glory mixing and mingling with his co-workers and new passengers nightly. He was active in the Kiwanis Club in Meredith and then later joined the Masonic order (Ossipee lodge), as an association he was especially proud of. While he and Margie retired from NH and relocated to Punta Gorda Isles, Florida in the mid 1990's, they found their way back to summering on the lake and wintering in Florida in 2013, and continued their snowbird journeys for years, until their health no longer permitted. Bill was an avid Winnipesaukee boater (a licensed MS captain); an experienced Florida sailor; a loyal to NH mountains' skier; an animal lover; an avid storyteller; a church elder; a loyal friend; and a man dedicated to his wife, his daughter, and spending as much time as possible doting on his three grandchildren. If you were fortunate enough to know Bill, you know that his personality was large; his laugh booming and infectious; and his ability to tell stories was endlessly entertaining and unparalleled. Bill is survived by his daughter Lorna (Mendelson), her husband Scott, and their three children, Eric, Ainsley and Delanie. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret (Margie) in July 2020. Private family burial in the Moultonborough Neck cemetery to take place in May.

Tributes

William J. Cobham

November 27, 1936 - February 3, 2023