Cook, Gerard J.

Description

Gerard J. Cook was born on November 21, 1920 to Anna and Harold Cook. He had one brother Harold. In Rye his family lived at 461 Midland Ave and were members of the Church of the Resurrection.

Gerard was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1939. In high school he played football, ran track and was a member of various clubs. Before the war Gerard was working at the National Biscuit Company’s Mount Vernon office.

He married his wife, Estelle Lapetina, in 1942. They would have two sons and one daughter.

Gerard enlisted September 14, 1942 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a crew member on several ships including the USS Wyfells, the USS Pasley and the USS Spry serving as a Seaman 2nd class and rising to the rank as an Electricians Mate Fist Class. After three years Gerald received his honorable discharge on September 29, 1945.

View Discharge Record, View Muster Rolls

Upon his return from the war, he began his career at Beech-Nut Life Savers where he worked for 40 years. He established Life Saver factories all over the world and was known to friends and family as the ”Candy Man”. Gerry was an active parishioner of Resurrection Church.

Gerard Cook, a lifetime resident of Rye, NY died on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at the age of 90. He was predeceased by his wife in 2001.

He was survived by his sons, Rod Cook and his wife Nancy, Richard Cook and his wife Linda and his daughter, Laura Vellucci as well as five grandchildren, Nancy Cook, Jim Cook, Melissa Cook, Bob Vellucci, Michael Vellucci and two great grandchildren, Emily and Charlie Cook.

A funeral mass was held at Resurrection Church on Tuesday, April 26, 2011.