NORWICH – Richard L. “Lefty” Cook, 81, life-long Norwich resident, passed away Thursday afternoon, Jan. 18, 2007) in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Born in Norwich on Nov. 2, 1925, Lefty was the son of Louis and Mildred (Gucker) Cook. He was very active in sports during his years in Norwich High School, from which he graduated in 1944. In Sept. of 1944, Lefty went into the United States Army and served his country in the South Pacific through his honorable discharge in Sept. of 1946. He returned home to Norwich where, on Oct. 4, 1947, he married Marian Pearsall.
Lefty worked as a mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service, from which he retired in 1980 after 32 1/2 years. He was an avid golfer and reader, and active in many of the bowling leagues over the years. He was a life member of Elks Lodge 1222 BPOE, American Legion Post 189, and VFW Christy Rock Post 2782, all of Norwich, and had served on the Board of Trustees for the Mt. Hope Cemetery Association. He belonged to the Norwich Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, and was a lifetime member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church where he served on the vestry. Following his retirement. Lefty enjoyed traveling with his wife.
Lefty is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marian Cook of Norwich; by his children: Rev. Stephen Cook and wife Terasa Cooley of Watertown, Massachusetts, Thomas Cook and wife JoAnn of Crestview, Fla., Sharon Everard and husband James of Norwich, and Susan Adkison and husband David of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; his sister Margery Cook of Norwich, by his grandchildren: Joshua Cook of Maine, Jennifer Butler and husband Steve of Okinawa, Japan, Andrew Adkison of Daytona, Fla., Michael Schlafer of New Albany, Pa., Melissa Osterhout and husband Bruce of Norwich, Alexander Adkison and wife Amber of Tallahassee, Fla., Rebecca Adkison of Gainesville, Ga., Melinda Horton of Norwich, Mathew Schlafer of Norwich, Aaron Mullinex of Albuquerque, N.M. and Ashley Wilkes of Norwich. Also surviving are his 10 great grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Lefty were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday from the Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Norwich. The Rev. Glenn Mahaffey, Rector, officiated. Interment followed in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends paid their respects at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
Lefty’s family has asked that you consider memorial contributions to the Cook Foundation, c/o NBT, 52 South Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815, which awards several scholarships to local students and benefits the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, The Place, The Guernsey Memorial Library, SPCA and YMCA.