Obituary of Arkell Blair Cook

Cook, Arkell Blair Rochester: Cook, Arkell Blair. Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at the age of 77. Predeceased by his parents Arkell and Margaret Cook and his sister Janet Elder. He is survived by his loving wife Jean, daughters Susan O’Brien and Carolyn (Scott) Cassar, son Arkell “Kelly” (Jessie) Cook, and grandchildren Ashley, Tyler, Kyle O’Brien; Henry, Thomas Blair, Annabel Cassar; Troy and Jordan Cook. Also survived by his brother John (Janice) Cook and sister Shirley (Jerry) Southland. Blair was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and also lived in Long Branch, NJ; Washington D.C.; Glencoe, IL; Grand Rapids, MI; and Rochester, NY. He graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL; Michigan State University with a business degree; Western Michigan University with an engineering degree; and Rochester Institute of Technology with a Master’s degree in Statistics. He served in Korea at the DMZ as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army Armored Division as a tank commander. He was a member of the American Society for Quality Control for many years and was employed at Kodak for over 20 years, followed by Markin Tubing, and Albany International where he retired in 2006. His 10 years of retirement were spent in good health and included time with all of his family, travel, many home (& cottage) projects, and relishing his role as Grandpa to his eight grandchildren. Throughout his life he was a nature lover, kayaker, canoer, sports enthusiast (Michigan State & Syracuse fan), and made countless camping trips all over the US and Canada, including multiple trips across the country. His wife and children will never tire of recounting the many adventures he took them on including 4 week trips across the country. Always “family first” in everything he did, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and cousin. Always present and ready with the camera, he never missed recording family milestones. He was quiet, dignified, believed in doing things the right way, dependable, playful, humorous, and strong but will be remembered mostly for the limitless unconditional love he had for those in his life. Blair's memorial service will be held Friday, August 12, 2016 at 2:00pm at Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1050 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607. Memorial donations, in Blair's name, may be directed to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 or to Asbury Storehouse, 1050 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607.