Cape Girardeau's Dr. Dan Cotner leaves behind legacy of service

"A kind, humble and honorable man. A friend to all."

Those two sentences describing "Cape Girardeau's own River City Music Man" Dr. Dan Cotner adorn a rock in front of the Capaha Park bandshell, now known as the Dan Cotner Amphitheater, and sum up a lifetime of service to the Cape Girardeau community and others around the world.

Cotner died Saturday, June 15, at 101 years old.

"I don't think anybody could deny that there was probably no more positive or energetic person in Cape Girardeau than Dr. Dan Cotner," said Jay Knudtson, executive vice president of First Missouri State Bank and former Cape Girardeau mayor. "He literally lit up any room he went into with both his personality, his smile and his positivity. He was a man that was surrounded by music, and everything good about it.

"Dan Cotner is one of those iconic figures in Cape Girardeau's history, and while we are terribly saddened by his loss, we are so privileged to have had him as part of our fabric for the last 101 years in Cape Girardeau."

Cotner became a dedicated servant beginning at a young age. After graduating from Cape Central High School, Cotner went on to study dentistry at Saint Louis University. During his first year at SLU, Cotner was enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program. Although the program disbanded while he was a member, Cotner felt a sense of duty to serve overseas during World War II.

Stationed in the Philippines, Cotner was in the country serving with the U.S. Army during Victory over Japan Day in August 1945, marking the end of the war. Cotner later served in the U.S. Air Force, volunteering during the Korean War in 1952, stationed in Libya.

Dental practice

Following the end of World War II, Cotner returned to SLU where he graduated from dental school in 1949. In 1958, he purchased the shares for then-retiring dentist Dr. A.J. Rasche's dental office building at 1818 Broadway, owning the building in partnership with Dr. Del Brunton.

Cotner married Paulette Sturgeon, who he met in dental school, on Christmas Day in 1948. The couple had four children, three girls — Danna, Danice and Danel — and one boy — Paul — who each grew up to become dentists.

In addition to practicing dentistry in Cape Girardeau, Cotner traveled the world on several medical missions where he provided free dental care through Rotary International and Westminster Presbyterian Church, which he helped found in 1962. From 1968 through 2001, Cotner took part in several medical missions in Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil, Pakistan, Ecuador, Kenya, Thailand and India.

"He would go abroad and do dental work for people way out in places you and I probably would never want to be," said Narvol Randol, a friend and fellow retired member of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band. "... He just had an insatiable appetite to help other people, regardless of what it was. If he thought he could help somebody, he would."

In 1988, Cotner relocated his office to the Medical Arts Building at 937 Broadway, where he worked with his son, Dr. Paul Cotner. He was also joined in the practice by his daughter Dr. Danna Cotner — who still practices dentistry with Cotner Dental and is a professor at Southern Illinois University's dental hygiene department — in 1994.

Love of music

Well-known for his passion for music, Cotner played trombone for the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band for 77 years, dating back to 1940. Those who played music with him described him as a selfless musician who gave others their time in the spotlight. Cotner also played the organ and piano in addition to trombone.

"Particularly in our group, he was just kind of the spirit of the Municipal Band," Cape Girardeau Municipal Band director Neil Casey said. "The band's got a long history, and he was in the band with people who were the founders of that band going back to the 1800s in the 19th century. He knew these people as a young man."

As a musician, Cotner performed for several different groups in addition to the Municipal Band, including the Strolling Dixieland Band, Jerry Ford Orchestra and the German Band. He's also played in the orchestra pit for Notre Dame Regional High School's annual spring musical, as well as for Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University.

"When Notre Dame started up their Hall of Fame in Performing Arts, it was meant to mostly honor students that had been through Notre Dame in the past," Randol said. "But he was one of the first people in the first group that was recognized, and he did not go to Notre Dame."

Community service

Cotner was active in many organizations during his lifetime. He served as a member of the Community Concert Association, Cape Girardeau Symphony Orchestra, Christian Arts Council/Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts, Rotary Club, Southeast Missouri Dental Society, Cape Girardeau Humane Society, American Legion, Cape Jaycees and the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau. He was also the first male president of the Campus Preschool Parent-Teacher Unit and was on the KRCU-National Public Radio board for six years.

"I don't know how he found the time to do everything," Randol said.

Honors

His work didn't go unnoticed. Cotner received several awards and honors for his efforts. He received the Service Above Self Award from the Cape West and Downtown Rotary Clubs in 1972, the National Golden Lyre Award by the Cape Girardeau Community Concert Association in 1976, the Otto F. Dingledein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts in 1978, the Golden Deeds Award from the Evening Exchange Club in 1989 and the Service Above Self Award from Rotary International in 1997 — the highest honor a Rotarian can receive by the international service organization. He was also honored several times for his humanitarian works and tenure with the Municipal Band.

Notably, Cotner was the second recipient of the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America Award on Independence Day in 2004.

"That was certainly a special honor to give, because the Spirit of America Award just epitomizes so many different qualities," said Knudtson, who presented the award to Cotner. "To be able to present it to somebody like him, it was a true privilege when I was mayor."

Former Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger, who lived with Cotner at Chateau Girardeau for the past nine years and had a close relationship with him during his tenure as mayor, said Cotner remained active at the retirement community up until his death.

"Some of the family were in here last week and one of his sons was playing the piano at a function Friday night here," Rediger said. "I woke up Saturday and they said that he's gone. ...

"He didn't let his age and his coming disabilities stop him from living life and enjoying life. He will be sorely missed in our community."