Obituary of Andrew George Cochand
Andrew George Cochand
Andrew George Cochand, age 80, passed away peacefully due to pneumonia, on Friday, March 19, 2021, at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Andrew was born on October 3, 1940, the son of the late George Emil and Evelyn Mildred (nee Muenzenberger) Cochand. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Andrew attended Gompers Elementary and was a 1958 graduate of Fenger High School, where he was on the yearbook staff and a member of the National Honor Society. Andy and his younger brother Bob enjoyed frequent driving trips to visit his grandparents, uncles, and cousins in Bradley, IL.
After graduating high school, Andy landed a job at Standard Oil in downtown Chicago where he met his lovely wife Sandi. He worked his way up through the organization by learning everything there was to know about the then cutting-edge IBM mainframe computers. Parlaying his IBM experience, Andy left Standard Oil to run the data processing center at the Southtown Economist newspaper for over a decade, before doing the same at Strombecker, Corp. Andy retired in 2006 from Kemlite as an IT programmer, where the favorite part of his job was making friends while keeping the office coffee pot full and hot.
Despite not being Catholic, Andy was active at St. Terrence Catholic Church in Alsip frequently volunteering at pancake breakfasts and father/son outings and sitting through many masses, yet only once took unauthorized communion. As an avid member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, he frequently attended the Oshkosh Fly-In airshow, and two of his children enjoy flying planes, one more accomplished than the other.
In his free time, Andy enjoyed bowling, golf, any type of card playing, and dominating a game of bags. Many a weekend was spent at Bluff Lake and his love of boating has been passed down to his grandkids, “Hit it Papa!” Andy was a typical Cochand in that he was always learning and teaching, and that too was passed down to his daughter and granddaughter, both who are teachers.
In later years, Drew and Sandi discovered Naples, FL and quickly adopted that as another home away from home, exploring, making many friends, enjoying all the new surroundings, and introducing their family to south Florida.
Andrew is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Sandra Jeanne (nee Beard) Cochand of Plainfield, IL; his children, Jeffrey (Jennifer) Cochand of Manchester, MA, Anthony (Karen) Cochand of Lenggries, Germany, and Andrea (Kevin) McCarthy of Plainfield, IL; his 11 grandchildren, Kaitlin, Jenny, Emma, Ben, Geoffrey, Molly, Maddie, Tia, Kylie, Jack, and Brett; brother, Robert (Laura) Cochand of Orland Park, IL; sister-in-law, Lucille (the late Sam) Luzzo of Plainfield, IL; brother-in-law, Robert (Celeste) Beard of Orland Park, IL; and nieces and nephews, Berklee (Joe), Breanne, Tommy (Eileen), Joey (Gene), Anthony, Gina (Derrick), and Bobby (Anais).
He is preceded by his parents and by his nephews, Michael and Danny.
A Celebration of Life for Andrew George Cochand will be held at a later date and his ashes will be spread in Antioch, IL, Naples, FL, and Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. Memorials in his name can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please visit and contribute stories, memories, and messages to https://padlet.com/cochand/andy.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
