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Artists join celebration of life of John Cowles, Jr.

Posted by: Rohan Preston under Theater, People Updated: May 18, 2012 - 8:38 PM

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Friday's memorial service for former Star Tribune publisher and philanthropist John Cowles, Jr., began on the sidewalk outside of the Guthrie Theater.

That's where about 30 dancers, choreographers and performing arts curators gathered for a silent vigil. Most were clad in white.

"He gave us buildings and support and wanted nothing in return," said dancer-choreographer Leah Nelson. "We give him our spirit, our hands."

 

He was a man who believed that artists bring life to our community, said flamenco dancer and company founder Susana di Palma. She recalled a story from opening night of the Cowles Center in Minneapolis last September. She saw Cowles as the elevator doors, and thanked him for his untiring support of the arts.
 
“He said, ‘no. Thank you,’” di Palma recalled. “And he was so sincere. Artists are the souls of these building.”

 

 

 

Inside the theater, family and friends remembered a civic-minded man known for his curiosity, lifelong learning and for championing community.

Roger Hale, who took trips with Cowles to Wales and elsewhere, recalled a family wedding where he invited Cowles and had him seated next to a German friend. Cowles peppered the friend with intelligent questions about German philosophy, Thomas Mann. Afterwards, the friend approached Hale, asking who was that fascinating man. "Oh, he’s an aerobics instructor," Hale said

Jay Cowles, the eldest son of John and survivor Sage, said that his father was "very monk-like. He took up poetry in the past six years as part of making sure that everything in his life was clean. When he found out he had this terminal diagnosis, he was intentional about getting in touch with people who he wanted to spend a little more time with or wanted to repair something. He was clean to his soul."

 

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