COOK, John William

COOK, William John - It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of William J. Cook (Bill), who died suddenly and peacefully at home on Family Day, Monday, February 20th, 2012. An incredible husband, a wonderful father and grandfather, and a deeply good man, Bill was born in Toronto on February 15, 1945 and moved to Sudbury shortly after his birth. He attended Prince Charles Public School, Sudbury High School, and graduated from Laurentian University in 1968. He received his LLB from the University of Ottawa and was called to the bar in 1971. After working at the law firm of Hawkins, Chmara, and Matte, Bill went to INCO in 1974 as legal officer in Copper Cliff, retiring in 2004. Bill married Leigh Ferguson in the Huntington College chapel in August 1970 and celebrated 41 wonderful years of marriage, which was a great example to all. Bill, son of Dr. J.B. Cook and Lillian Douglas Steven (both predeceased), was brother to Catherine Beatty (John) of Ottawa and Robert Cook (Janet Koecher) of Toronto. Loving father of Jack Cook (Lisa), Stephanie Levesque (Roy), Susan Plante (Andy) and Pamela Cook. Proud Grampa to William, Edward, Ellen, Stevie, Emmett, Finn, Thomas, Joseph, and Henry. Uncle to Mary (Mark), Marian (predeceased), Austen and Colby. Great uncle to Jenna, Max, Giselle and Addison. Bill was president of the Sudbury Lions Club (1978-1979) and a former member of the boards of the John Howard Society, Metro Centre Management, Laurentian Hospital, and Network North. He served on the Board of Regents of Huntington University and received a Doctor of Sacred Letters from Huntington in 2001. He was a former community volunteer for the Heart & Stroke and the Lake Panache Campers Association, Inc. and served as a committee member for St. Andrew's United Church. Bill loved spending the summers at the family camp on Cooks' Yankee Island at Lake Panache. In his retirement, he was an avid boater in his Cobalt, and enjoyed travelling to Florida, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and visiting with family, especially his cherished grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, St. Andrew's United Church Samaritan Fund or St. Andrew's United Church General Fund, would be appreciated. Resting at the JACKSON AND BARNARD FUNERAL HOME, 233 Larch St., Sudbury. Funeral Service in St. Andrew's United Church, 111 Larch St., Sudbury Friday, February 24th, 2012 at 1pm. Cremation at the Park Lawn Crematorium.(Friends may call 7-9pm Thursday).