Former State Senator Charles D. Cook of Delhi died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, in Delhi. He was 66 years of age.
The son of the late Edward and Lillian Hicks Cook, he was born February 26, 1935, in Deposit.
He attended a one-room school in Rock Royal, graduated in 1952 from Hancock Central School and in 1956 from Hartwick College in Oneonta.
Senator Cook was a true statesman who served his constituents as a legislator as well as a friend. His Senatorial District encompassed Sullivan County.
Mr. Cook was editor of the Bainbridge News for a year before entering the U.S. Army. Following his tour of duty, he was editor of the Deposit Courier until 1965.
When he was elected Delaware County Treasurer in 1965, he and his family moved to Delhi. He became Delaware County Social Services Commissioner in 1971 and in 1972 was elected to the New York State Assembly. Mr. Cook was elected to the New York State Senate in 1978 where he served for 20 years before retiring at the end of 1998.
Senator Cook served on many committees during his public service including chairman of Education (during which he authored the STAR program for relief of school property taxes), Local Government, Transportation and Agriculture committees. He was the first chairman of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources which became known nationally for its innovative programs to address the needs of rural residents. He was Secretary of the Legislative Commission on Critical Transportation Choices, a member of the Council on Health Care Financing and was a Presidential appointee to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health.
During the confrontation with New York City over the watershed regulations, meetings and hearings throughout the district led to the formation of the Coalition of Watershed Towns and obtained state funding to support the coalition in their court battles with the City, ultimately bringing the City to the table and resulting in the historic four-way agreement.
He was instrumental in maintaining a $1,000,000 annual budgetary appropriation to support rural hospitals in diversifying and expanding outpatient services and founded the program of state grants to assist rural health care providers in extending and maintaining services in rural communities. Senator Cook also authored the original "early intervention" legislation which provides for early identification, diagnosis and treatment of developmental disabilities in children.
Senator Cook served as a trustee at Hartwick College and was a member of the Government Law Center Advisory Board at Albany Law School of Union University. He was bestowed with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hartwick College in 1989. He was also a trustee of O'Connor Hospital and chaired its annual fundraiser. He was a member of Friends of Bassett Hospital and served on the Board of Directors of Koinonia, the campus ministry in Oneonta and was an honorary director of Delaware-Otsego Planned Parenthood. After retirement he continued to serve as a member of the NYS Rural Health Council and the NYS Partnership Trust.
A part-time adjunct lecturer, teaching state government courses at SUNY New Paltz and Hartwick College, and United States History at Delhi College, he also served the congregation of the United Ministry as a lay speaker, pastoral care provider and true spiritual leader.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Dorothy Behrens Cook, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Michael Fillius of Dale City, Va.; two sons and a daughter-in-law, John and Valerie Cook of Springfield, Va., and Jeffery Cook of San Francisco, Calif; two sisters, Ethel Damonkos of Fairfield, Conn., and Mary Kelsey of Manheim, Penn.; a brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Blanche Cook of Walton; three grandchildren, Benjamin Fillius, Jessica Sinkovits and Sarah Cook of Virginia; two step-sisters, Audrey Dabulewicz of Otsego and Helen Zandt of Walton. He was predeceased by two step-fathers, Robert Seymour and William Schriver; several step-sisters and step-brothers; and two infant sons, David and Edward.
According to his wishes, Mr. Cook's body was donated to the Albany Medical Center for organ donation and medical research.
A memorial service to celebrate his life was held Sunday, May 27, at the United Ministry Church in Delhi, followed by a reception at Alumni Hall at SUNY Delhi.
Memorial contributions may be made to United Ministry of Delhi Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 111, Delhi, N.Y. 13753; Hartwick College Scholarship Fund in Senator Cook's name at Hartwick College, Office of Institutional Advancement, West St., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820; or to the American Heart Association.

Glenn M. Greene of Bloomingburg, a plumber with Cal Starr Plumbing & Heating in Middletown and an 18-year area resident, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown. He was 32 years of age.
The son of Bruce and Debra Taylor Greene, he was born December 31, 1968, in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mr. Greene was an avid NASCAR fan following Mark Martin and Tony Stewart. He was a great father to his children.
He is survived by his father of Caledonia and his mother of Bloomingburg; three children, Brittany, Katherine and Glenn; his maternal grandparents, Catherine and Bruce Berry of Peoria, Ill.; his paternal grandmother, Ruth Greene of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a brother, Jeffry R. Greene of Bloomingburg; a sister, Melissa Greene of Tampa, Fla.; a nephew, Camren Greene; and numerous aunts and uncles.
A memorial service was held Sunday at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home in Middletown with the Rev. Susan Faye Wonderland officiating.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.

Mildred Martin of Bloomingburg, a retired elementary school teacher for the Pine Bush School and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, in Albany. She was 89 years of age.
The daughter of the late George and Hattie Smede Totty, she was born September 3, 1911, in the Town of Montgomery. She was the widow of Richard Martin.
Mrs. Martin was a member of the Community Church of Bloomingburg, a trustee of the Bloomingburg Library, a member of the Restoration Foundation for the Library, and a member of the New York State Retired Teachers Association.
She is survived by a sister-in-law, Emily Smede of Walden. She was predeceased by a daughter, Prudence Smith.
Graveside services and burial were held Friday at the Wallkill Valley Cemetery in Walden with the Rev. John Rottenberg officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bloomingburg Free Library, 5 North Rd., Bloomingburg, N.Y. 12721.

Peter Gregory Cammarata Jr. of Newburgh, a general contractor, died Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. He was 30 years of age.
The son of Peter G. and Kathy Makarewicz Cammarata, he was born May 10, 1971, in Newburgh.
He is survived by his mother of the Town of Newburgh and his father and step-mother, Lorraine Cammarata of Middletown; his wife, Elizabeth Pelo Cammarata, a son, Gregory Vincent Cammarata, and a daughter, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Cammarata, all at home; two brothers, Brian Cammarata of Catskill and Christopher Cammarata of the Town of Newburgh; two step-sisters, Sarah Cammarata of Monticello and Stephanie Cammarata of Middletown; a niece; several nephews; and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Saturday at Sacred Heart Church in Newburgh.
Burial was made in St. Francis Cemetery in New Windsor.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gregory Vincent and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Cammarata Memorial Fund, c/o P.O. Box 2204, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.