G. Walton “Walt” Cottrell

Ithaca, NY 14850

 

Undergrad college/major: Mechanical Engineering/Machine Design.

Affiliations at Cornell: Beta Theta Pi, Cornell Rifle Team, NROTC.

Advanced degrees:  MBA, Cornell ’63.

Career/occupation: Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer of four corporations: Treasurer, Owens-Illinois, Inc. (glass containers); Chief Financial Officer, Allen Group (automotive equipment); Treasurer, Squibb Corporation (pharmaceuticals); Chief Financial Officer, Carpenter Technology Corp. (stainless steel).

Important affiliations: Chairman of National Association of Corporate Treasurers; Chairman of Sciencenter Discovery Museum (Ithaca); Director of Berks County Community Foundation (Reading, PA); President, Planned Parenthood (Toledo, OH).

Marital status: Married, happily.

Spouse: Jean S. Cottrell ’63.

Children: Lisa C. Brady and Lori L. Cottrell

Grandchildren: Camille, Nolan and Juliette Brady

Outstanding Cornell memory: Dating my future wife.

How has your life differed from what you expected? I never expected to have the opportunity to live and work in Switzerland for five years. 

Cornell activities post-grad: Treasurer, Cornell Class of ’61; Member, Cornell University Council.

Personal reflections: Cornell is where my wife and I dated and became engaged. We married one week after graduation. My Cornell engineering and MBA education gave me the skills to pursue and be successful in many interesting jobs over 40 years. My Cornell NROTC and Navy shipboard tour of duty gave me valuable leadership experience. Now that we have retired in Ithaca, our Cornell friends and Cornell activities have made retirement exciting and enjoyable. We love boating in the Finger Lakes with our children and grandchildren.