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13 February 2010

Obituary of Jeanmarie Dunn Coogan

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(extracted from "Philadelphia Inquirer" [PA], 03 FEB 1997, PAGE B-05):

JEANMARIE COOGAN, WRITER, EDITOR

Jeanmarie Dunn Coogan, 71, a writer and magazine editor, died Friday 
in Shelburne, Vt.  A West Philadelphia native, Mrs. Coogan graduated 
from West Catholic School for Girls and Immaculata College. After 
graduating with honors in 1947, she joined the editorial staff of 
Ladies Home Journal.  When she married her husband, Joseph, in 1950, 
she left full-time journalism but continued to maintain her ties to 
the Journal. Her "Kate's Girl" series of stories first appeared in 
the Journal in the early 1960s.  These stories were fictionalized 
reminiscences of her relationship with her mother and were published 
not only in the United States but also around the world after Reader's 
Digest published the stories in many international editions.  In the 
1970s, Mrs. Coogan became editor in chief of what is now Nursing '97 
magazine. She later became vice president of editorial affairs of 
Springhouse Corp., the magazine's publisher.  Under her editorial 
leadership, the magazine became the second-largest journal for nurses 
in the United States and was frequently nominated for best magazine 
in its circulation category. After she retired in the early 1980s, 
she and her husband continued to live in Roxborough and Manayunk, 
until last summer, when they moved to Wake Robin Retirement Community 
in Shelburne, Vt.  Her husband died in September. In an era when it 
was difficult for women to achieve their full potential, said her 
daughter, Nell Ekman, Mrs. Coogan stood out both as a creative writer 
and as an outstanding editor. Her rare combination of heart, 
intellect and strength of character made the woman behind "Kate's 
Girl" loved by all, her family said. In addition to her daughter, she 
is survived by a son, Kevin, and three grandchildren.  A memorial 
service was held yesterday in Vermont.

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