Jon Eric Cobain often said, “I was born dirt poor and education was my ticket to play.” And once he got that ticket as UNLV’s first graduate, he played all out — in business, philanthropy, and community work. 

Cobain passed away on March 22, 2024, in Monarch Beach, California, after an extended battle with throat cancer. He was 81 years old.

His daughter, Erika Cobain, said he went full throttle to the end, taking helicopter lessons and renewing his pilot’s license in his 70s. He also continued to do business, play tennis and golf, volunteer, and, of course, give to causes he cared about, including UNLV.

“He never officially retired; he just slowed down,” she said, laughing. “I don’t think he ever had his hand out of the pot for making things happen for people.”

Leading the Centennial Class

As student body president, Cobain was the first graduate to cross the commencement stage in 1964 at UNLV, then called Nevada Southern. Ambitious, talented, and hard-working, this original first-generation student embodied the spirit of a growing city and university. 

Born Sept. 4, 1942, he was raised in Las Vegas when the Strip was just one street and Maryland Parkway a regular flood zone. His father was a steelworker for new casino construction, and his mother worked in a shoe store. He graduated from Rancho High School, where he was known for both academic achievement and for getting his pilot’s license along with his driver’s license. 

His best friend, Phil Lum, called him the “sky king” and flying would remain a love throughout his life. He loved playing in the desert and finding arrowheads as a child. Later, he earned money testing for radiation with Geiger counters at the Nevada Test Site. He told his daughter he used to drive around in his white T-bird with all the windows rolled up, pretending he had air conditioning, while hauling water softeners in the desert — another early job.

At UNLV, Cobain graduated with a business degree, top of his class of 29 students, known as the “Centennial Class” in honor of Nevada’s 100th anniversary as a state. He would go on to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to his alma mater, funding scholarships for first-generation students, and supporting business, arts, radio, and library programs. 

He knew the value of education, and throughout his life, he gave to ensure other striving students gained access and opportunities. 

“I have experienced firsthand the opportunities pursuing a degree brings with it,” Cobain said in 2022, after pledging matching funds to establish the Cobain Scholarship for the Lee Business School in support of high-achieving first-generation students. “Together we can elevate and recognize the rising stars at UNLV who are the first in their families to attend college.”

A Fortune 500 Career

After graduation, Cobain quickly soared to new heights. He and his first wife, fellow UNLV student Ginger (Yates) Covalt, moved to Chicago, where he earned an MBA at Northwestern; then it was on to Caracas, Venezuela, for a year-long scholarship program for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. After settling in Torrance, California, the couple had two children: Erika, now a fine arts teacher, writer, and artist; and Leif, an orthodontist.

Cobain started his career in marketing and new product development for Fortune 500 companies, including Beatrice Foods, Lear Siegler, and International Harvester. In 1979, he founded Las Vegas-based Fomento, Ltd., a mergers and acquisitions firm that handled transactions in 33 states and six countries. In the 1980s, Fomento grew to 60 employees with offices in Washington, D.C., and Newport Beach, California. 

Cobain sold his interest as the largest shareholder, a successful deal that enabled him to increase his philanthropic giving. UNLV benefited greatly from his generosity, as he supported the Lee Business School, Black Mountain Institute, KUNV, and UNLV Libraries with matching gifts designed to inspire a new generation of alumni to give.

He also donated materials related to his experience as a student and alumnus to UNLV Special Collections and Archives. The Jon E. Cobain Papers includes a scrapbook from his 1964 graduation day, newsletters, personal correspondence with administrators, and his diploma. 

'Talented in Everything'

Cobain was married to his second wife, Judy Flynn, for 40 years, and they moved between their homes in California and Las Vegas; she was his perfect match, and together they were generous donors. They also loved to travel the world. Fluent in Spanish after years of conducting business in Central and South America, he made it a point to learn at least a few phrases in multiple languages, his daughter said.

“I appreciated that both of my parents spoke Spanish and used it regularly to connect with people. I was impressed that my dad was always learning new languages to help him connect with people wherever he traveled or wanted to do business.”

He had so many interests, she remembered. “He was talented in everything.” 

He loved to water ski and play tennis, pickleball, and golf. Even while battling throat cancer, he played with a fierce competitiveness, she said. “I played him at tennis, and I couldn’t beat him.” 

He was also an excellent cook, known for his chicken wings and chilaquiles. He was an avid and talented photographer. And he loved the fine arts, supporting music, theater, and the visual arts. He once surprised and charmed his daughter by performing in a drag chorus line with a group called the Lagunatics for charity.

But his guiding passion remained access to education for those with financial need, Erika said. “He chose to put his money where it could do the most good for those who needed it. And he enriched every community he lived in through giving and volunteering.” 

Cobain will be remembered by his wife, Judy; his children Erika Cobain and Leif Cobain; and grandchildren, Kai Ichiro Cobain, Reese Raiden Cobain, and Franklin Calder Brady-Cobain, as well as his best friend, Phil Lum, of Las Vegas. He will be missed by pickleballers, tennis players, and many friends here and abroad.

Honoring Cobain in a recent message to the university, Lee Business School Dean Gerry Sanders said Cobain’s time at UNLV coincided with an era of transformation for the university. 

“His remarkable journey — from being our first graduate to making significant contributions over the decades — has left an indelible mark on UNLV's history,” Sanders said. “His vision and generosity touched countless lives, and his memory will continue to inspire future generations of Rebels.”

It’s a call-to-action Cobain would undoubtedly appreciate.

“As the first graduate of UNLV, I felt a responsibility to lead by example and to try to get other alumni and donors in the community to really support the institution,” he once said. “I strongly believe that a well-educated populace is the very best solution to any problem we have or any potential problem we are confronted with.”

Continuing Jon Cobain's Giving Legacy

Donations to Jon Cobain funds for the Lee Business School support three initiatives:

• The Cobain First-Generation Business Scholar Endowment Fund is for high-achieving, first-generation Lee Business School students. To qualify, students must have a high school GPA of 3.75 or higher and maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA while at UNLV.
• The Cobain Fund for Career and Professional Services helps the Lee Business School Office of Career and Professional Development expand its programming to help students refine their professional polish, engage with employers, and secure rewarding positions upon graduation.
• The Center for Business and Economic Research Cobain Fund helps to increase the number of students involved in applied business and economic research. The Center for Business and Economic Research and Lee faculty aim to hire more students for applied research projects and help them refine skills to jump-start their careers.