Albert Lee Cobetto, 76, of Palm Beach, FL, and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, formerly of Taylor Springs, died on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, after a battle with cancer and dementia.
No services are planned at this time.
Mr. Cobetto was born on Dec. 5, 1949, to Elmer and Lois (Govaia) Cobetto in Hillsboro, the eldest of five children (Albert, Kathryn, Amy, William and Robert). His paternal grandparents had immigrated from Ivrea, Italy, shortly after the war and settled in Taylor Springs where the family lived and ran a tavern, Cobetto’s Tap, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. Mr. Cobetto had happy memories of his childhood and often related funny stories that never grew old.
Mr. Cobetto held a bachelor’s of science degree from Bradley University and graduated with an MIM degree from Thunderbird (American Graduate School of International Management) in 1975. He married his wife, Karin E. Hansen, in the same year and lived to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2025.
Mr. Cobetto started his working life at American Hospital Supply in Philadelphia, PA, and then Chicago. He transferred to Hong Kong in 1984 where he moved into corporate finance beginning with the opening of the Lehman Brothers Asia office. Other positions he held were head of capital markets for Salomon Brothers Asia, CIO/managing director of Prudential (Jennison) Asia Public Fixed Income Fund, and head of public sector (Asia) at ABN AMRO/RBS where he established the CITIC Capital China Mezzanine Fund.
In all of his positions, Mr. Cobetto worked closely with government institutions and multinational banks such as the Asian Development Bank, Ministry of Finance China, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore governments for the development of the Asia Capital Markets. He was awarded the ‘Emerging Markets Superstar’ by Global Finance for his many contributions to the development of the Asian Capital Markets.
He was very active in the charity Summerbridge, which is a program for highly motivated, underprivileged high school students from low-income families. He influenced the lives of many young people through his encouragement and mentoring.
Mr. Cobetto loved to travel and especially enjoyed spending time at their home in the south of France. After 35 years in Hong Kong, he and his wife retired to Palm Beach, FL, in 2020 where he spent his last years.
Mr. Cobetto was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; and sister, Kathy Cobetto.
He is survived by his wife, Karin; siblings, Amy Stewart (husband Jack) of Girard, Willie (wife Kelly) of Hillsboro and Rob of Michigan Center, MI; and many nieces and nephews, and many lifelong friends who remember him with fondness.
Memorials may be made to the Montgomery County Cancer Association, 106 Pinnacle Point Dr., Hillsboro, IL 62049 or online at https://mccaweb.com/purpose.
