“He was a wonderful friend, teacher and mentor to many in the John Carroll community. Highly involved in the life of the university, he will be missed. On a personal note, I greatly valued his friendship and often looked to him for advice. Please join me in offering our support, prayers, and sympathy to his wife, Peggy, and family members.”

Dr. Coburn was an avid cyclist, enthusiastic environmentalist, and his commitment to service learning was evident in the many field expeditions he organized for students.

He also created Project ¿Qué?, a summer science and math enrichment program for Hispanic students in grades 6-8. John Carroll partners with La Sagrada Familia, a Cleveland Catholic parish, on the program.

In 2003, Dr. Coburn received the Distinguished Faculty Award at John Carroll. The award is presented each year to a faculty member selected by a committee of faculty, students, administrators, and alumni for excellence in classroom teaching and scholarship.

Dr. Coburn earned his bachelor’s from the University of Notre Dame in 1971, his master’s in biology from John Carroll in 1975, and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 1982, the same year he joined John Carroll. The University Heights native grew up about a block away from John Carroll, and had longstanding ties to the University; his father and five of his six siblings are also John Carroll alumni.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Spaeth; two children, Kevin, a senior at The Ohio State University, and Rosey, a sophomore at Cleveland Heights High School; father, Donald J., class of 1943; mother, Elaine; and four brothers and two sisters, including Catherine ’73, Howard ’76, Patrick ’77, Christopher ’79, and Mary Rose ’82.

A beautiful memorial Mass celebrating Dr. Coburn’s life was held August 21 at a packed Church of the Gesu across the street from John Carroll. Close friend and University colleague, Dr. David La Guardia, delivered a heartfelt eulogy (see link above).   In addition, an estimated 900 mourners attended visiting hours August 20 in the Charles and Helen Dolan Center for Science and Technology at John Carroll.

Project ¿Que? is just one of Dr. Coburn’s many good works at John Carroll University. His family has asked that memorial contributions be sent to John Carroll University to help sustain this program.  To contribute to Project ¿Que? in memory of Dr. Coburn, please click here or mail a check payable to John Carroll University (note Project ¿Que?/Miles Coburn Memorial in memo line) to:
President’s Office, John Carroll University. 20700 North Park Blvd., University Heights, Ohio, 44118.