Compassion That Continues to Inspire

Caring for others inspires $250,000 nursing scholarship endowment

James Cobin, a 1976 graduate of Black Hawk College’s nursing program and a pioneer in his field, is being honored with a new $250,000 endowed scholarship for full-time nursing students at Black Hawk College. The James Cobin Class of 1976 Endowed Scholarship was established by his husband, Stanley Anderberg, through the Black Hawk College Foundation, ensuring Cobin’s legacy will support future generations of nurses.

The endowment honors the memory of James Cobin, a 1976 graduate of Black Hawk College’s nursing program who subsequently served as a nurse at Moline Lutheran Hospital. As one of the few male nurses at a time when less than 3% of the profession was male, Cobin was recognized as a pioneer. He served as president of his nursing class and was widely respected for his passion and compassion. Throughout his career, Cobin mentored new nurses, urging them to "always treat each patient as if they were family." Colleagues frequently noted his efforts to comfort patients and inspire others to approach nursing with empathy and integrity. Cobin passed away in 2017.

Stanley Anderberg, Cobin’s husband and a graduate of both Black Hawk College and Western Illinois University, established the endowment in Cobin’s memory. The two met during college while Anderberg was visiting Germany, where Cobin was stationed with the U.S. Army. Upon returning to the United States, both pursued careers in health care. Anderberg initially worked for Deere Harvester Works in East Moline but, after losing his job during the 1980s farm crisis, returned to college to earn a degree in respiratory therapy, exemplifying adaptability and resilience. Cobin later joined Anderberg in the Quad Cities and enrolled at Black Hawk College. The couple eventually relocated to Florida, where they worked together at Bay Pines VA Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Their shared journey of perseverance and adaptability mirrors the experiences of many nursing students who overcome obstacles and embrace new opportunities in pursuit of their careers.

“Black Hawk College was important to both of them,” said Cobin’s niece, Dr. Wendy Hilton-Morrow, who described her uncle as someone who saw nursing not as a profession, but as a calling.

“Thanks to the heartwarming and generous gift from Stanley Anderberg, we are able to support BHC programs and transform BHC students’ lives,” said Zenaida Landeros, executive director of the Black Hawk College Foundation.

The story of Stanley Anderberg and James Cobin exemplifies love, dedication, and generosity. The scholarship established in Cobin’s memory will sustain their legacy of compassion and commitment to education.