Robert “Bob” Cook, 74, succumbed to complications from diabetes in the comfort of his home in Oceanside, California, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, February 16th to honor his life. Contact Pat for details.
Tributes
Leave a tributeI was ten years old when you were born. We lived in Stifflertown, PA., outside of Cherry Tree, PA. When you were about one year old our parents purchased a gas station in Cherry Tree and we moved. It expanded into a full sized restaurant and was the family business. While our parents were fully occupied, you were my responsibility and you were my “live” baby doll for me to play with and lovingly care for. It was fun putting you in my bicycle basket and riding you around town. We had so many wonderful memories growing up.
As grew older and married, each raising our children, we were separated by many miles - East Coast to West Coast. But our hearts were always entwined. You went on to distinguish yourself in your career and I was always so proud of you.
Though we lived our lives separated, East-to-West Coast, when we reunited it felt like only yesterday that we had been apart.
I will miss you immensely. Till we meet again MY Budsy, in heaven, to spend eternity with God.
Your loving sister,
Janet Lovich
Carolynne and Steve Hirsch
I know that he will be missed by his Family.
Jenny and I’ll miss going to the Laguna Beach playhouse with Bob and Pat.
Enjoy the golf courses heaven has to offer, you’re the best and will be missed!
One of my earliest memories of “Uncle Budsy” must have been when he was still in high school and I was about 5 years old. He was interested in chemistry and had a “chemistry set” in the basement of his parent’s home in Erie, PA. I still remember being fascinated by all the colorful bottles of chemicals and the glassware that came with the set. In particular, I didn’t know what beakers were. He had a large one and a small one but also one that was intermediate in size. I asked him what it was and he told me it was a medium beaker. I knew small and large, but I’d never heard of anything medium before and I really liked that beaker.
About the same time, I also remember marveling at how a garbage truck could lift up those big trash containers outside the back of stores. He told me it was because of “hydraulics” and I became fascinated with a new word.
When he was in college at Penn State working on a degree in chemistry he got a summer job/internship working at a place called Hazelton Laboratories near Tyson’s Corner, VA. That summer he lived with us in Alexandria and I had a blast spending as much time as possible with him. One memory that we both enjoyed over the years was when he would get down on the floor on all fours and act like a raging hippopotamus. I would jump off our couch onto his back with a toy rubber knife and stab him while we rolled around laughing. Many years later he would ask me if I still had the rubber knife!
About the same time, my Dad would go out to Woodbridge, VA to visit a friend with an airplane. Budsy and I went with him one time. The friend had a pond on his property. One day, Uncle Budsy and I decided to go for a swim in the pond (I don’t recall asking permission). There was a small boat for kids to play in and I got inside. Meanwhile, Budsy took on the role of a raging hippo and rocked the boat for our amusement.
Another fun memory involves an old 45 RPM record I found in the trash behind our apartment when I was about 6 or 7 years old. The record was an old Eddie Lawrence comedy schtick. One side had a story about an African safari gone bad with Mogambo as the main character. Budsy and I thought it was hilarious. While still in the apartments Budsy bought me a Gil Hodges first baseman mitt and I remember waiting all day for him to come home so we could go out back and play catch. I think I still have that glove. As I recall, he bought me my first plastic bat and whiffle ball too as he really like sports.
While working at the lab he was able to bring home a couple of Guinea pigs they didn’t need and they were some of my first pets. He also brought home some quail eggs one day that we opened up to look inside but they were infertile. After he left he sent me a letter with pictures he drew of animals including a little circle that he labelled, a “dog egg”. This fascinated a 6-7 year old of course even though I really didn’t understand how a dog could have an “egg”.
Later, when I was about 10 years old, my sister and I spent a week or two with him when he lived in Norfolk, VA with his young family. Jimmie was only about 2-3 years old. Bob taught me how to play tennis there and I still remember how much fun it was learning from him. As I recall, he lived within walking distance of the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. There were beautiful lakes there and I would sneak in to fish despite warnings from him not to go in, and abundant “No fishing” signs!
Bob and I often reminisced about these memories over the years and he never forgot about the rubber knife or Mogambo!
.....Where did the time go? I wanted to see you again....and the time slipped away from me ...and now I am sad ... and life is too short.
I have such fond memories when you visited us in Virginia when I was a small child. We played with guinea pigs on the floor at my mom's house (your only sister). You were always so fun to be with and lots of love and laughter.
James 4:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away...
1 Peter 1:24 King James Version (KJV)
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away...
John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I love you and miss you!
Cindy
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San Francisco Trip
My grandparents decided to take me to San Francisco for my high school graduation. I had never been in northern California until they took me up there. We drove up the coast and made numerous stops on the way because of sightseeing in many different places like Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz. We also went to see and visit a lot of different golf courses in every location, and grandpa showed me some that are very elite and challenging t play. Some of the courses we stopped at were Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Poppy Hill's, Cypress Point, Olympic Club, San Francisco Country Club, Half Moon Bay, Sandpiper, La Purisima, and La Riconada. We also got tickets to a San Francisco Giants game while were there, which were hard to get because all the tickets were sold out and were only available from those who sold them because they wouldn't go to certain games. We also ate good food up there and went to different places for different stuff every night. One place that is a must go to is Bertolucci's in South San Francisco, which has some of the best cannelloni you will ever have. We also went across the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a historic landmark in San Francisco, and that was amazing. One place that we didn't get to do and it gives e a reason to go back there was a tour of Alcatraz. Also, another place that gives a reason to go back is Buena Vista, which grandpa told me is the best Irish coffee. This was another trip that grandma and grandpa planned to do for me, and did everything to make sure that I would enjoy it.
Boston Trip
One of the best vacations I've ever had with my grandparents was our trip to Boston back in July of this past year. It was amazing because this was only the second time I've been on the East coast. The hotel we stayed at was called Hotel Commonwealth, which is directly across the freeway and overlooked Fenway Park, which is the home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912. We had a package with our hotel for the night after we arrived, but since we got in early enough and there was a home game that night, we decided to get tickets and went to the game that night against the Texas Rangers. One of the reasons why we decided was because Bartolo Colon (aka."Big Sexy), and we had never seen him pitch before, so we got the best seats available and went to the ballgame that night. The next night was the big night for us, because that was the game we had our hotel package with, and that included seats up in the Green Monster. Also, we got a private tour of Fenway Park and got to go on the field during batting practice for the opposing team, which was the Toronto Blue Jays. In addition, Mookie Betts hit a grand slam over our heads into the street below. That was one of the best baseball games I've ever seen and been to. Another thing that makes Boston a great place is the seafood, and its some of the best lobster and clam chowder you will ever have. Two of the restaurants that we ate at and you have to go to is Legal Sea Foods and the Union Oyster House. We also did some sightseeing while we were there, and Boston has a lot of old history, cemeteries, and buildings. We also did a boat tour through the harbor and outside islands. Grandma and Grandpa wanted to take y brother and I there, and they did everything they could do to make sure it was one I would never forget, and I never will thanks to them.