Blair P. Cosman ONEONTA -- Blair P. Cosman, 92, went to be with the Lord unexpectedly at Bassett Healthcare Hospital on Saturday evening, July 30, 2011. He was born in Rockford, Washington State, on Sept. 8, 1918, the only son of Margaret Pearce Cosman and Jacob Ethbridge Cosman. Their only daughter died at the age of 8. After graduating from Rockford High School in 1937, he attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., where he received a bachelor of arts degree in music. For his master's degree in music theory and piano in 1941, he attended the Eastman School of Music, a special part of the University of Rochester. In 1941, he was employed as a piano and music theory instructor by Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland, Ohio, teaching there until 1945. At that time, he was hired as a classical piano teacher for the Eastman School of Music, where he remained until his retirement in 1983. During and prior to retirement, while living in the Rochester area in Webster, he worked as an organist and/or choir director in several Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. After retirement, in addition to being employed as an organist, he volunteered at the Corpus Christie Church and performed various chores as a helpmate. He also became an active Mason and served in various Masonic staff positions. In 2001, he moved to Oneonta and, for a short while, he was a volunteer for the Catskill Area Hospice Auxiliary as well as a member of the Fox Hospital Auxiliary. During 2009, he moved to St. James Manor. He enjoyed playing the piano for several sing-alongs there and was even a pianist for one at The Plains in June. He was appointed secretary of Man-to-Man, the American Cancer Society's prostate cancer support group and reported about each month's gathering at Hannah Lee House in Cooperstown. He donated his body to Albany Medical Hospital's anatomical unit which functions as its training and research unit for medical programs. A memorial mass and reception is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at St. Mary's Church in Oneonta. A reception will follow in the parish hall. For those who wish to honor his memory, memorial contributions may be made to St. James Manor, 9 St. James Place, Oneonta, NY 13820, Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, or Catholic Charities, 176 Main St., Oneonta, NY 13820.





Published in Oneonta The Daily Star