DEATH / LODGE NOTICES

John A. Cogar, a retired Baltimore lawyer and avid fisherman, died on July 2nd from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. John

was 75 and lived in Cambridge, MA. He was diagnosed in 2015

and adapted his life to accommodate his lung disease with grace and persistence.

John was born and raised in Hyattsville, MD, attended college at DePauw University in Indiana,

and received a Law degree and Masters from Boston University in 1973. John and Mary wed in 1978 in Gloucester, MA and moved to Baltimore, MD in 1981 so John could pursue a job opportunity.

John was a lawyer in private practice at several law firms, concentrating in business, tax and estate planning with a particular focus on the development of business continuity plans for closely held family businesses. In 1994, John moved to Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Company to head up the Estate Planning Department. After several years, John was promoted to Senior Vice President and Manager of Wealth and Estate Planning. Mercantile merged with PNC Bank in 2007, and John became Wealth Planning Director for Greater Maryland. John retired from PNC Wealth Management as a Senior Vice President and Senior Wealth Strategist. John was a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a past Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Estates and Trusts Law Section and served as Chair of the Trust Committee of the Maryland Bankers Association. During those years, John was very active in working with the Maryland legislature, on behalf of either the Estates and Trusts Law Section or the Maryland Bankers Association, on drafting laws pertaining to estates, trusts, businesses and taxes, including the enactment of the 2014 Maryland Trust Act. John also served informally as a mentor to younger officers, encouraging them to expand their technical knowledge and to grow in the careers.

After retiring from PNC, John and Mary moved to Cambridge, MA to be close to their daughter. Outside of the office, John spent time on the Chesapeake and around Cape Cod kayak fishing and teaching others how to fish. He was also a very talented cook and created a multitude of delicious meals for family and friends. John loved cycling and spent numerous hours cycling on his road bike. Another of his interests was European soccer and he was a loyal supporter of the Tottenham Hotspurs.

John is survived by his wife, Mary Cogar, and daughter, Katie Cogar, who also live in Cambridge, MA. John was the youngest of three brothers and got his love of fishing from his dad, who also was an enthusiastic fisherman. The family will host a private ceremony in

remembrance of John later in the summer.