John Pope Cole Jr.

Jack Cole, age 92, born in Washington, D.C., Jan 12, 1930 to John P. and Helen Gorman Cole, and life-long resident of the Washington Metropolitan area until 2012, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 13, 2022. In 2012, Jack and his wife became full-time residents of Sea Island, Georgia, where the family had long enjoyed a vacation home.

Jack attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., Class of 1948. Immediately following graduation, he enlisted in the USAF serving on active duty 1948-49. He then attended Auburn University, graduating in 1953. Thereafter, he entered The George Washington University Law School, receiving his LL.B. degree in 1956. Following graduation, he went to work for the Federal Communications Commission as a staff attorney, where he remained for a year, then joining a private law firm, Smith & Pepper. In 1960, Jack took a one-year leave of absence from that law firm to become Administrative Assistant to long-time Georgia Congressman Jack Flynt, then returning to the law firm as a partner. He practiced media/telecommunications law in Washington for 50 years, principally with the firm of Cole, Raywid & Braverman, of which he was the founding partner in 1966. Jack’s specialty was in the growing, fast-evolving field of cable television law and regulation, where he was often referred to as the “Dean of the Cable Bar”. In 1980-81, Jack served as a member of the Presidential Transition Team of then President-Elect Ronald Regan.

Beginning a gradual “withdrawal” from active legal practice in the early 2000s, Jack became a member of the Boards of Directors of several publicly-held domestic and international communications companies, including an 18-year stint with Liberty Global, the World’s largest international cable TV and internet services provider headquartered in London and Denver, and with which he frequently traveled worldwide.

Jack’s college sweetheart and loving wife of 55 years, Patsy Nan Moss Cole of Rome, Georgia, predeceased him in 2014. Jack and Patsy Nan first met on a blind date in 1949 and, following a “whirlwind courtship”, married in 1960. Together, they raised two beloved children, John Moss Cole (wife Meredyth) of Atlanta, and Nina Cole Loard of Sea Island, Georgia. Also surviving are beloved grandchildren Clay Cole and Logan Cole, and Jack’s dear youngest sister, Jan CoIe Benjamin of Houston, Texas.

Additionally, Jack leaves his dear friend Antonia “Toni” Laird, his devoted caregiver Lorene Cross, and good friend Kirk Loard. This notice would be incomplete without acknowledgement of Jack’s late Cockapoo, Maggie, his devoted sidekick and bunk-mate of 20 years who predeceased him only last year.

Jack had four passions in life: family, the law, golf and enduring friendships-- not necessarily in that order, and each of which gave him lasting joy. Auburn football was a very close runner-up. An avid golfer, he was a long-time member of Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland, Sea Island Golf Club and Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, Georgia, venues where he often labored beating balls always intent on honing his golfing skills with, in his words, “little to show for it, but tons of fun and many wonderful pals”.

Jack dearly loved his family, as well as his many colleagues, clients and friends. And they loved him. In his nearly 93 years on this planet, he led a productive, satisfying, ethical and enjoyable life. As he so often observed, “Who could ask for more?”

A memorial service in Washington, D.C. will be planned in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, 4627 Hwy 17, Brunswick, GA 31525. (912) 264-6246.

Sunset and Evening Star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar

When I put out to sea.

(Alfred Lord Tennyson, Crossing the Bar, 1889).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.edomillerandsons.com for the Cole family.