Joseph M. Cobert Esq. – 50th Reunion Essay

Joseph M. Cobert Esq.

16027 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 610

Encino, CA 91436

jmcobert@sprynet.com

818-986-4200

Spouse(s): Janet F. Cobert (1970)

Education: University of California, J.D., 1969-1972

National Service: None

Career: Attorney, specializing in real estate since 1975; real estate broker since 1979; real estate investor; teacher of Real Estate Finance course at UCLA; Order of the Coif and law journal editor in law school; chairperson of numerous real estate-related organizations; numerous state/local government awards

Avocations: Travel; attending theater/concerts/films; art collecting and visiting art museums and others’ collections; making presentations at real estate seminars; attending sporting events; being a “foodie”

College: Berkeley

A California boy, I knew that I was destined to return to the West Coast after graduating Yale. I had always planned to study law, although I left for law school in the fall of 1969 lacking any real idea of what a legal practice entailed.

I headed to San Francisco with Jan, the love of my life. While I started law school, Jan began her sophomore year of college in the city by the Bay. This was a big logistical improvement from the 1968–1969 year when our school locations were 2,000 miles apart and when, prior to cell phones, we spent a fortune on long-distance calls.

We kept in touch with my Berkeley College roomies of junior and senior years, Tom Fuller (aka “SEG”) and Charlie McCormack. Tom had returned to his roots in Oregon; Charlie took a work break en route to obtaining an MBA at Stanford. Over the years, we have found time for fun-filled visits (along with spouses) in Oregon, Washington and California.

In the summer of 1970, Jan and I took the leap into marriage, the wedding being in Los Angeles. Fuller drove down from Oregon to be a groomsman, even getting a haircut for the occasion, joining a number of my “homies” from Beverly Hills as ushers.

I guess the leap was successful because Jan and I proved to be soulmates and are preparing to celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary this August. Never having had kids (not counting numerous “godchildren”), we launched careers in the early 1970s. I became a real estate attorney (both transactional and litigation), a real estate broker, an investor and a UCLA teacher of real estate finance. Jan merged her art and history interests to combine her vocation as a fine art and personal property appraiser with our mutual avocations of art collecting and visiting others’ collections.

We stretched our budget to buy a house in Westwood in 1975. We love it and still live there almost 43 years later.

Meanwhile, we have had free time to travel extensively, to become cinephiles and supporters of theatre and music in Los Angeles, to indulge as “foodies” and to participate actively in numerous charities and industry organizations. Our exercise regimes, once substantial, have slowed down considerably. I remain an avid arm-chair and stadium-attending sports fan.

We have looked forward to the Yale Class Reunion every five years. It has been quite unique and enjoyable every half decade to get back together with a group of 10 to 20 Berkeleyites and their significant others, with the camaraderie resuming almost the moment we arrive. At the 25th year reunion, Jan and I began a special friendship with Berkeleyite Jonathan Hoffman and his (then pregnant) wife Donna. That friendship, even though we live on opposite coasts, has resulted in sharing birthdays, family weddings, holidays and many other events.

Lots more to say, but I’ll have to save the rest for May of 2019 in New Haven!