Excerpts from Bob Malin's eulogy for our dear friend, John "The Owl" Corcoran.


"Seemingly born with the distinctive appearance and patrician demeanor that fairly reeked of the dignity and decorum of his native Boston, John brought all this to Dartmouth and more, including a keen and inquiring mind. But, most meaningful to each of us, he was a natural creator, deft facilitator and dedicated nurturer of genuine and lasting friendships. This is unquestionably his enduring legacy, of which we are all grateful beneficiaries.

At Dartmouth, he rowed crew, physically enlarging his already oversized kind and generous heart. Piling up academic honors while rarely breaking a sweat, John was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year and graduated magna cum laude, missing summa by one hundredth of a grade point. His made up for that modest deficiency at Harvard Business School, graduating as Baker Scholar and first in his class.

John's financial DNA brought him to Wall Street where he was the fourth man in the newly formed Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette, which burst upon the scene with the then heretical notion of "uncommon profits in common stocks." John devised and articulated the intellectual underpinnings of DLJ's highly successful marketing concept, which stands today as the best executed entry into the entrenched securities business. John lifted the sights of stodgy institutional investors as Business Week quoted him "We're optimizing a comprehensive systemic approach to capital deployment mechanisms." When asked how much commission revenue that generated, he responded with a bemused smile.

In those days Scottish trusts were highly regarded as vast repositories of accumulated wealth and investment acumen, so DLJ sought an audience with the largest and best reputed in Edinburgh, run by a peer of the realm. With appropriate ceremony, John was ushered in. He made his patented deferential bow to the distinguished looking formally attired gentleman seated behind his desk. John began his well-rehearsed introductory words of respect and appreciation, but was immediately cut off as the man arose and politely guided him to the next office, saying "Lord Ingrahams's secretary will see you now." John always claimed that this was the only time he mistook a butler for a world-class stock buyer.

John is the consummate gentleman, mannerly and courtly, always with proper bearing and erect posture. Defying the laws of physics, he even skied absolutely upright. His abiding affection for his wife and daughters and for his friends invariably produced appropriate nicknames, so it was only right to give him his own, "The Owl," in recognition of his wisdom, his reserve and his penetrating gaze peering through steel rimmed spectacles, which all somehow fit with his understated humor.

Owl, this morning, with fondness and respect, we gather to say farewell. Among many men good and true, you clearly stood out from the others. We are grateful for you uncritical, loyal and sustained friendship, which, when other memories fade, will remain with us, always.

May God grant you peace and love, and eternal life through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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