Obituary of John J. Cousins

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Headline: Former Erie Chief of Police.

John J. “Jack” Cousins, age 89, of Erie, passed away on Thursday April 27, 2017 in Cape Coral, FL.  He was born in Conneaut, OH on December 31, 1927, a son of the late Edwin and Margaret (Buettner) Swain.

Jack graduated from Tech Memorial High School and proudly served his country in the United States Navy.  After being honorably discharged, he furthered his education at the F.B.I. Academy in Quantico and received credits from Gannon University and the University of Virginia.  He was appointed to the Erie Police Department in 1956; he became the Chief of Police in 1985 and later retired after 31 years of service.  He was a life member of the Erie Maennerchor Club and the NWPA Chief of Police Association.     

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one son, Scott Cousins and one brother James Cousins. 

He is survived by his wife of 60 years Theresa (Borawski) Cousins; their children, Bryan (Catherine) Cousins and Jacquelyn (Jay) Saur; daughter-in-law, Patty Cousins; five grandchildren, Courtney (Nick) Johnson Cousins, Kyle Cousins, Nikole, Alexis and Samantha Saur; one step-granddaughter, Steph Fetzner and three great-grandchildren.   

Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Wednesday from 4 -7 pm, with the Erie Retired Police Officers Association having a Memorial reading at 4:30 PM.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday morning at 10:00 am at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, McKean, PA.  Private interment will be held in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.