Obituary of Jonathan Mark Cowans

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Dr. Jonathan Mark Cowans (1958-2024)

Beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend

Dr. Jon Cowans passed away on August 28, 2024, at New York Presbyterian. Jon was born in San Jose, California, to Daniel R. Cowans and Diana Weill Cowans. Jon graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Services in 1988 and obtained a PhD in Modern European History from Stanford University in 1994. He was Professor of History at Rutgers University-Newark, where he also served as Director of Film Studies and was former Associate Chair and Undergraduate Director. He authored the following books: To Speak for The People: Public Opinion and The Problem of Legitimacy in The French Revolution (Routledge, 2001), Modern Spain and Early Modern Spain: A Documentary History (Editor and translator, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2003), Empire Films and The Crisis of Colonialism 1946-1959 (John Hopkins University Press, 2015), Film and Colonialism in the Sixties: The Anti Colonial Turn in the US, Britain, and France (Routledge, 2019). He was also a collaborator with several journals and publications.

Jon was active in his Eagle Ridge community in West Orange, where he had served on the POA Board as President of Section VI, treasurer, and trustee.

Jon shared his interests in films, travel, music, and culture with his wife Reyther Ortega (married in 2005) and was a devoted father to Alejandra (16) and Marcelo (12). He loved playing tennis, spending time with friends, trying new cuisines, and enjoying a good baseball game. Jon played piano professionally for nine years and toured the US and Europe before beginning his college education. Jon was fond of his friends and maintained contact with many friends from high school. He looked forward to his annual trips to California to spend time with family.

Jon is survived by his mother, brother Bruce Cowans, wife, and children.

Services will be held at Preston Funeral Home in South Orange at 153 South Orange Av. NJ on Friday, September 6 starting at 5:00 pm for visitation, and a celebration of life at 6:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Jon’s memory to the

 Cancer Society. 

He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Announcement from Dean Jacqueline Mattis

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