Eleanor Clayton Cogan Sept. 22, 1909 - Dec. 27, 2011 Born in Chicago, IL to Thomas and Nora Clayton, Eleanor grew up in Dixon, in northern Illinois. She attended the University of Illinois where she earned an MS in Chemistry and was honored Phi Bata Kappa in math. She also met fellow chemistry student Howard Cogan whom she married in 1934. Following their marriage they moved to Pittsburgh, PA and after the birth of their children, Jillian and Bruce, moved to the suburban town of Glenshaw. There she engaged in the typical life of raising children and gardening, but also the not so typical activities of breeding and raising dalmatians, co-planning vacation motor trips across country, and becoming an elder in the Presbyterian church.

Retirement led to Carlisle, PA which became a beloved home for 38 years. Eleanor became an active participant in college activities and classes offered by the Department of English at Dickinson College, as well as holding positions at her church, volunteering in the community and expanding her travel with Howard to international sites. She valued her family, good days in the garden, travel, concerned awareness of others, and lifelong learning. Dickinson College in 2003 bestowed upon her the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Littt.). Her last 7 years were spent in Marin County where she spent her 102nd birthday enjoying lunch out and a party at which she glowed over getting first dibs on the chocolate cake.