Mr. Donald Joseph Cook

April 23, 1942 - August 27, 2017

Mr. Donald J. Cook, 75, of Palmetto, Florida passed away on the 27th of August, 2017. He was born on April 23, 1942 in Newark, New Jersey to William and Catherine (Kilduff) Cook. A high school graduate, Donald had been employed by Home Insurance Group of NYC and retired as a Shift Manager, Data Processing Department after 36 years of service. In Florida, Donald enjoyed working part-time at Publix in Parish serving more than 5 years before his illness in 2014. Donald married the love of his life, Elizabeth (Schwartz) on April 2, 1966 and they enjoyed 46 years of marriage. He is predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth Cook, and his son, Donald J. Cook, Jr. He is survived by daughter, Dawn Smith, son-in-law Brad Smith, and Grandson, Christopher Smith, son Shaun Cook, daughter-in-law, Bridget Noone Cook, brother, William E. Cook Jr, sister, Gail Elia, brother-in-law, Gerard Elia, many members of his extended family in Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and some wonderful and loyal friends near and far. He moved to Florida from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania with his wife in 2002 to fulfill their lifelong dream to live out their retirement together in the Sunshine State. As we remember “Don”, remember his love of music, his strength and kindness, his laugh and may you smile when you hear a “golden oldie”. Two memorials will be held. In New Jersey, the memorial service will be held at Cochran Funeral Home located at 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 on Sunday, September 24th - visitation at 2 p.m., service at 3 p.m. In Florida, a sunset memorial will be held at Sandbar Bill’s of the Bon-Aire Resort located at 4350 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 on Sunday, November 19th at 4:30 p.m. For information or to post condolences, please visit www.MemorialParkFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials made to the ASPCA (https://secure.aspca.org/team/donald-cook-memorial-fund) would be appreciated.