09/12/2026
We are saddened to learn of the passing of former Charles Wright Academy history teacher and Head of the French Department, John "Jack" Cousins. Jack taught in the CWA Upper School from 1967-1996 and is credited as being one of the key voices in the creation of the Upper School Winterim program at Charles Wright, serving as the first director of Winterim. Jack came to Charles Wright with a full background of formal education. He received his BA and MA from Brigham Young University and worked toward a Ph.D. as a Mellon Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. He also studied at Laval University in Quebec and the University of Montreal. Previous to CWA, Jack taught at the Shady Side Academy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A Canadian by birth (Jack grew up in Toronto), Jack has spent his married life in the United States. He and Sue raised four children: Robert '84, Scott '86, Laura '89, and John '96, all “lifers” at Charles Wright. Upon his retirement from CWA in 1996, Jack was bestowed the Lifelong Teaching Award in recognition of his 29 years of service to the school.
We invite former students and colleagues to share a memory of Jack on this post and, in that spirit, share this memory from Diane Hunt, who remembered Jack from her first days at Charles Wright as a Middle School math teacher:
"In addition to teaching French, I remember Jack as the AV guru in the Middle and Upper Schools. If you needed help with a burnt-out overhead projector bulb or setting up a reel-to-reel film (Donald in Mathmagic Land, perhaps) for your geometry class, Jack Cousins was the man to call. An important resource for a rookie teacher way back in the day."
Jack's funeral will take place at 10 a.m. on September 19th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 4219 Beckonridge Drive West, University Place.
