In Memoriam
Jack Cover
Jack Cover died on Monday, March 31, 2014. Below are his obituary and a remembrance by his Yale roommate, Craig Jensen '64.
Obituary
Raleigh News & Observer
April 2, 2014
Jack Brauer Cover died on Monday, March 31, at his home in Raleigh, NC. Jack was born in Des Moines, Iowa to Virgil and Lois Cover who preceded him in death.
Jack spent two of his high-school years in Burma, a time he thoroughly enjoyed. The friendships he made then remain to this day. He graduated from Fayetteville Manley High School in Fayetteville, NY. Jack then spent a special year attending school in Heidelberg, Germany before attending Yale University. He graduated from Yale with a degree in political science and received his masters from Syracuse University.
Jack began his career at IBM. He then spent most of his professional career as a database analyst contracting with both public and private entities across several states and overseas.
Jack was a Certified Lay Pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA where he was a lifelong member. He served as an elder in sessions in Danbury, CT and Raleigh, NC (North Raleigh Presbyterian Church and West Raleigh Presbyterian Church).
Jack was honored to be a delegate to the General Assembly of the PCUSA where he became acutely aware of the church's injustice to LGBTQ members. He served two terms on the Board of More Light Presbyterians. He campaigned vigorously for More Light in the last fifteen years of his life, seeking equal treatment for LGBTQ members within the Presbyterian Church. Jack learned to knit just so he could make rainbow scarves for awareness of More Light issues. He was a strong supporter of peace and justice causes, and was disappointed that he was too weak to risk arrest as part of the NAACP-organized Moral Monday protests during the summer of 2013.
Jack was a friend to many and was well known for taking food to those in need. He was also known for his whiskey sours and homemade fudge. Jack was a big man with an equally big heart and a generous spirit.
Jack is survived by his wife, Camilla Bolin (Weaver) Cover; daughters Rebecca Cover Franklin (Paul) and Kendra Wynn Cover; son Micah Powell Cover; stepson Gaines Montgomery Weaver; and step-daughter Jennifer Elizabeth Weaver and her husband David Lybrook Neal. He had five grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Jerry Clifton Cover.
Services will be held at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 6 at 3:00pm. Family will receive friends at a reception at the church immediately following the service.
Memorials may be sent to More Light Presbyterian, PMB 246, 4737 County Road 101, Minnetonka, MN 55345-2634 or to West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, 27 Horne St., Raleigh, NC 27607.
Remembrance by Craig Jensen '64
I fondly remember being Jack Cover’s roommate at Pierson College at Yale from September, 1962 to June, 1964.
I was always amazed, and still am, that many of the college dorm rooms had working fireplaces. Jack and I often double-dated, and on one such occasion Jack decided to cook steak with mushrooms in aluminum foil in our fireplace, complete with the requisite wine, bread, trimmings, and Stan Getz music, borrowed from Neil Hoffmann from across the hall. I had never had steak and mushrooms — my family was not much into cooked mushrooms, and I had never had them before. Anyway, Jack proved to be a superb cook and made me a fan of steak mushrooms for the rest of my life.
Very recently, I had the honor of spending Thanksgiving, November, 2013, with Jack and his wife Cam, his brother Jerry, and friends, at their home in Raleigh. This time Jack wanted to cook Thanksgiving dinner on a grill outside for all of us, with no help from Cam or anyone else, again with all the trimmings. He prepared the veggies, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie, and took pride that he was doing it all. It was an outstanding meal, which I was grateful to be part of.
Jack was also a remarkable warrior with his cancer. He had it in the eighties and then had an operation which eliminated it for nearly 30 years. Unfortunately, it came back three years ago. His saga of battling cancer for the last three years is a remarkable account of his courage and strength, as well as a tribute to the great support he received from his wife, Cam, his friends, and his church. I told him more than once that he was an inspiration to all of us.
At his funeral service I got to meet many of his friends and family whom I had never met. It is clear that Jack was a friend to many and well-loved by many more, from all walks of life. I was honored to be part of that group honoring Jack’s life.