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SCV Senior Center Founder Russ Cochran Remembered By Family, Community

Russ Cochran, founder of the SCV Senior Center and an active member of the Santa Clarita community, died Feb. 27 from pneumonia at the age of 86, according to family members.

Alex Urbina joins The Senior Hour this morning with Dr. Gene Dorio and Barbara Cochran!

Posted by KHTS Radio on Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Cochran was a longtime resident of the Santa Clarita Valley who helped positively impact the lives of seniors, children, those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions, domestic violence victims and musicians since the 1970s.

Cochran was born in Ontario, Calif. on March 27, 1932. He mainly lived in foster homes until he was 15, when he moved in with his aunt and uncle.  

During the time Cochran was in foster care, he was a ward of the court, and a judge gave him a violin and paid for lessons in an effort to keep him active and off the streets.  

That gesture began his music career in Kings County, where he sang in choirs and played in symphony orchestras as he matured into adulthood.  

At the age of 18, Cochran enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a combat medic in Japan until he was discharged in 1952.

Although Cochran never finished high school, he earned his GED, attended Chafee College and Long Beach State, and subsequently obtained his PhD in School Administration from USC.  

Cochran began his school administration career in 1955, serving as a teacher and principal in numerous elementary schools in Barstow, San Leandro and Hanford. He spent his last 24 years of administrative work in the Saugus Union School District, retiring in June of 1992.         

In addition, Cochran was very active in serving the Santa Clarita community and earned a number of accolades over the years, including:

  • Founder and president of the Santa Clarita Valley Community Health Council, with assistance of business leaders in the community who realized there was a lack of medical services in the Santa Clarita Valley  

– Initiator and developer of a county mental health grant to fight substance abuse in the Santa Clarita Valley

– Founder and president of the board of directors for the Santa Clarita Valley Coalition on Substance Abuse

– Founder of the COC Symphony Orchestra

– Member of the SCV Boys & Girls Club board of directors

– Member of the Child & Family Center board of directors

– Founder of the SCV Senior Center

– President of the board of directors of the Committee on Aging

– Member of the board of directors of the North L.A. County Coalition on Substance Abuse

– Chairman of the Newhall Advisory Board for Urban Development

– Member of the Interagency Task Force on Substance Abuse for LA County

– Member of the Alcohol Task Force for LA County

– Member of the United Way Budget Committee, Region I in North LA County

As a result of his community involvement, Cochran met Barbara Stearns in 1973, and they married in Las Vegas in 1996.

The couple played golf, loved music, traveled to dozens of countries, enjoyed European river boat cruises, rode motorcycles, went glider flying and treasured Friday dinners with friends.

In addition, Cochran was a member of the Elks and the OFFC (Old Farts Flying Club), a model airplane club. He built and flew model airplanes for over 40 years.

Cochran adored Barbara’s children — Chuck (deceased), Diedre and Scott — and the couple has six grandchildren and six great grandchildren living in Palmdale and Virginia.

After a doctor diagnosed Cochran with pneumonia on Jan. 16, 2019 during a house call visit, he was admitted to the hospital.

In late February, while still staying at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Barbara told Cochran she was going to donate $10,000 in his name to the SCV Senior Center. Though Cochran was too weak to talk, Barbara said he approved the action with a smile.  

She made the announcement at the center’s Celebrity Waiter Dinner fundraiser on Feb. 23, adding that the donation was a final fitting gesture for a quiet, private man who had not only given life to the SCV Senior Center, but to many other causes in this community.  

Cochran died peacefully four days later on Feb. 27, one month shy of his 87th birthday.


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SCV Senior Center Founder Russ Cochran Remembered By Family, Community

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About Louie Diaz

Louie was born and raised in Santa Clarita. At the age of two Louie lost his vision due to a brain tumor. However, Louie doesn't let blindness stop him from doing what ever it is he wants to accomplish. Growing up some of his favorite hobbies were wood working, fishing and riding bikes. Louie graduated from College of the Canyon in December of 2017, with a Broadcast Journalism degree. Growing up Louie has always wanted to be a fire fighter or a police officer, but because of his blindness Louie knew that wouldn't work. Louie has always loved listening to police and fire radio traffic, using a scanner, and he figured if he was going to listen to the scanner so much, he should do something with it.