Bernard Thomas Cotter ’50, the first Editor-in-Chief of The Crusader newspaper, died on Dec. 8, 2022.
Born on May 20, 1932, “He [Cotter] was a very energetic person; he was a good scholar; he was always inquisitive. He wasn’t athletic, but more of an intellectual type,” said Cotter’s classmate, Bob Rose ’50.
According to his widow, Anne Girot Marr, Cotter’s love of writing and journalism prompted him to take on the role as the first editor-in-chief when Riordan opened in September of 1949 as a longtime project of the Brothers of Mary to replace St. James High School.
Current newspaper adviser Susan Sutton mentioned, “The fact that in the first year of the school’s existence, the school leadership decided it was important to establish a school newspaper speaks volumes about how integral journalism is for not only the students to have a way to share news and express themselves, but also for the school community in regards to consuming news.”
She also commended the newspaper’s student leaders at that time for taking the initiative, stating, “I think I can say that if it wasn’t successful that first year; and if Mr. Cotter and other student leaders didn’t step up, we might not have had a newspaper for the past seven decades.”
“It’s just so awe-inspiring to look back and know that here he is starting at a new school and as a senior, and he wanted to leave his mark on the school,” she added.
Cotter’s involvement in school and hobbies extended beyond writing and journalism. During his time at St. James High School, he frequently participated in the plays put on by Immaculate Conception Academy–an all girls’ school just up the block.
“In fact, because of that activity, that’s where he met his future wife, Anne. And that’s where they became high school sweethearts and married and stayed married all this time until he passed away,” revealed Rose.
After graduating high school, Cotter attended Santa Clara University for college and earned a law degree at the University of San Francisco.
Throughout his practice as an attorney at law, “his writing really flourished. He did a lot of writing because he prepared trials,” said Marr.
“And then he also became an editor of San Mateo County’s lawyers magazine, called The Docket. He did that for at least 20 years,” she added.
With regards to Cotter’s support for The Crusader, “He was always very gracious in his encouragement and compliments for our students. And while he was definitely one of our biggest fans, I can say that I was one of his biggest fans,” reminisced Sutton.
Marr concluded: “Being remembered would mean a lot to him.”
