Robert Thomas COTTINGHAM

Bob Cottingham fenced sabre for the USA at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. Cottingham was a four-time All-American in fencing at Columbia, graduating in 1988. He led Columbia to NCAA titles in 1987 and 1988, the first two of five in seven years that they would win. In 1988 Cottingham was NCAA sabre champion, with Columbia also providing NCAA champions that year in foil and épée, the first time that had occurred since 1961.

After college Cottingham obtained a law degree from Rutgers University at Newark. He later worked for New Jersey Congressman Donald Payne, as district director of New Jersey operations. He later became a vice-president of government affairs and a director for Phacil, an engineering services provider, and then started his own business consulting firm, Sabre88. Cottingham also has served as a chair of the Peter Westbrook Foundation. In 2013 Cottingham received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, given each year to six former student-athletes at the 25th anniversary of their graduation.