Obituary of Joseph Thomas Cook

Dr. Joseph Thomas Cook "Joe" Died August 4, 2012 of a prolonged illness at home in Elmira, NY. Joe was born September 4, 1946 in Bolivar, PA, the son of Thomas Foster Cook and Ethel Woodward Cook. Joe is survived by his children Seeley and Rachel. Also surviving are his brothers Dennis and Chad, their wives Theresa and Pam, his many nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. Joe was a devotee of classical art song. His love of music manifested early when he sang at church and joined every choir and band in grade school through high school: marching band, orchestra, barbershop quartet, German band and community choirs, where he sang tenor or played the trombone or piano. This love for music followed Joe to college and graduate school where he received advanced degrees in music. He graduated from the College of Wooster BMus. in Voice, went to Oakland University in Rochester, MI for vocal training, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL for a MMEd. in Vocal performance. He attended Indiana University, Bloomington, IN for a DMus. in Choral Conducting. He taught at Northern Michigan University in Marquette and at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. He was Associate Director of the Aspen Summer Choral Institute, CO. Most notably he headed the Music Department of Elmira College where he worked for 32 years. Joe is recalled fondly as a passionate, committed teacher. In addition to his work on campus, Joe invested in community theatre and directed or featured in many stage productions including his work with Elmira Little Theatre and the readers' theatre duo Camerata Players. Joe was a voracious reader with an inquisitive mind, a science fiction enthusiast, an accomplished culinary adventurer, a lover of local food and wine, a back roads tour guide, an Eagle Scout and life-long lover of the outdoors; above all a gifted storyteller, and remembered for his wry humor and snappy repartee. He will be missed. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in Grace Episcopal Church, 375 W. Church Street, Elmira. If you wish to honor his memory by supporting any of the choirs in which he sang, please see the web addresses below. Ithaca Community Chorus: www.ithacacommunitychoruses.org Grace Episcopal Church in Elmira: office1@grace-elmira.org Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes: info@osfl.org Mansfield University Festival Chorus: music.mansfield.edu