Thursday, July 10, 2025
Dear Simone and Family,
My deepest condolences to you on the loss of your husband and father Donald.
I had the pleasure of serving with him and under him as a 2nd Class UT Petty Officer in the USN Seabees in MCB 6 from 1967 through my discharge in October of 1969.
He was a pleasure to serve with and he helped me greatly as he encouraged me to return to Villanova University after my discharge and continue to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. This I did using the GI Bill and received my BSME IN 1975.
I worked for 43 years in various responsible positions in the Engineering Business and I must say that "Senior Chief Cochrane's" influence of always doing the best remained with me.
As an ordained Permanent Deacon of the Catholic Church in Philadelphia I will offer prayers for him and for you always. He was a man of great influence in my life.
I only wish I knew that I knew he resided in Mt. Laurel, NJ. My wife and I lived in Medford, NJ for over 10 years from 1995 to 2005 and it would have been great to see you both.
I actually met you, Simone, in the MCB 6 "B" Company Offices in Davisville, RI in 1968 prior to our deployment to Puerto Rico to build the 48 hour Alert Seabee Base in Roosevelt Rhodes. At the time I was the designated Training PO for the Company.
God Bless you all,
Deacon John J. Todor Sr.
