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On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, Kenneth Leal Cook left this world to reunite with his wife, Anne Rahman Cook, in Heaven after fighting a long battle with emphysema and chronic heart failure. He passed over peacefully at his home in Landrum, SC under the care of Hospice of The Carolina Foothills just short of his 85th birthday. A lifelong resident of Rye, NY, born June 28, 1930 to Harold Leal Cook and Nellie Platt Cook, he served in the Navy aboard the USS Midway for 2 1/2 years during the Korean War. In 1964, he & Anne founded and operated a successful small business, Westchester Wilbert Vault Co., which became the largest company of its type in Westchester County, NY until their retirement and sale of the business in 1999.
He was a lifelong volunteer fireman of more the 60 years with the Milton Point Hose Company in Rye, NY advancing to the title of Captain Cook. He volunteered much of his time to Port Chester-Rye Volunteer Ambulance Corp., where he served as a driver alongside Anne, who also volunteered as an EMT. While serving many individuals in their community, they were both first responders to the Stouffer's Hotel fire in White Plains, NY; Ken through Milton Point Hose, Anne through Port Chester-Rye Ambulance Corp.
He had a love for nature and wildlife, particularly birds that remained a force throughout his life. He will be remembered for his volunteer work at Edith Read Bird Sanctuary where he could be seen maintaining trails and remembered for installing an Osprey nesting platform with one of his "boom" trucks, among his many other duties there. His love for nature was also expressed through his talent with oil paints that few knew he possessed.
In 2013, Ken moved to Landrum, SC with his wife and daughter, Link Cross, with the constant questions on his lips, "Why didn't we do this year's ago?" He instantly fell in love with the Thermal Belt of the Blue Ridge Foothills and the "such a cute little town" of Landrum, SC, where he was welcomed as if he had lived here his entire life.
Ken's life will be remembered and celebrated on his 85th birthday, Sunday, June 28th, 4:00-8:00 p.m.@ Overmountain Vineyards, 2014 Sandy Plains Rd., Green Creek section of Tryon, with a very special ticketed fundraiser event, opened to the public, benefitting Hospice of the Carolina Foothills. Overmountain Vineyards is where he enjoyed its proprietors, Frank & Lita Lilly, and their wines, their many interesting quests and the tranquil mountain views almost every afternoon during the last four months of his life.
Sofia Lilly, Assistant Winemaker, remembers Ken as wanting "to be at the winery (OMV) every afternoon before the school buses pass by, which I later learned were at 3:35 and 4:00 pm---- he timed them. He loved sitting and watching the birds swoop down over the vineyards and land in their nests. He would sit in the sun with a glass of wine and a smile on his face while he watched me work on Saturdays and Sundays. Sometimes, on slower days, we would look up trivia about all the 50 states or talk about fly-fishing. Ken was a true renaissance man.
He was a soldier, a fireman, a painter, a fisherman, a father, a grandfather, and a friend. I was lucky to be able to listen to him tell stories about his childhood and the way that life has changed over the past 80 years. He inspired me to be better and taught me to appreciate the littler things about life and always be honest."
Included in the ticket price of $25.00 will be a full concert featuring Gigi Dover and the Big Love, Dean Trakas, playing Ken's favorite keyboard tunes, Doc Brown's BBQ Food Truck, a very special Dove Release by LJ Meyers and Silent Auction. Wine, beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit Hospice of the Carolina Foothills. Tickets are currently being sold at Overmountain Vineyards and also online through Eventbrite. com.
Ken is survived by three children, Michelle (Glenn) Richardson of Harpswell, Maine, Link Cross of Landrum, South Carolina and Jimmy Cook of Harpswell, Maine, one granddaughter; six grandsons and five great-grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, friends may send donations in memory of Ken Cook to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, NC 28722. Condolences may be left at www.pettyfuneralhome.com.
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Published in The Journal News on Jun. 11, 2015.
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