Maryann Cook
Lyme — Maryann Brockett Cook died at home with family on March 3, 2017, following complications from intestinal surgery.
Maryann was born in Utica, N.Y., on Feb. 7, 1942, to Francis Willard Brockett and Helen Savicki Brockett. She grew up in the country and attended public schools in the Village of Clinton, N.Y. From an early age, she loved books and was a voracious reader. Maryann was salutatorian of the Clinton High School class of 1960.
Maryann graduated from Wells College in 1964 with a B.A. specializing in art history. While a sophomore, she met her future husband, David, as a blind date at a Hamilton College house party weekend. After graduation, Maryann was an elementary school teacher in Oriskany Falls, N.Y. She married David at the Hamilton College chapel in August 1965.
David and Maryann relocated to Los Angeles, Calif., where she worked for an insurance company and then obtained a Master’s in Library Science from UCLA. She worked as a reference librarian at UCLA and USC. David received a Ph.D. from USC in 1969. While in California, they made camping trips to many of the western U.S. national parks and Mexico and crossed the country several times. After graduation, they spent six weeks touring Europe.
They settled in Old Lyme in 1969 and moved to Lyme in 1971. In the early 1970s, Maryann worked as a school librarian in New London and Norwich. She accompanied David on extended business trips to Ireland and Puerto Rico during this period.
Maryann gave birth to two sons, Colin in 1974 and Andrew in 1977. She became a stay-at-home mom raising her sons who attended Lyme-Old Lyme public schools. Summer vacations were spent at Saranac Lake, N.Y., with friends Marion and Ed Harley. In the 1980s, the family began making winter trips to Florida and Disney World. Maryann was an excellent mom who provided a nurturing home environment and instilled in her sons the value of education. Colin graduated from Northwestern and Andrew graduated from Hamilton. Colin then obtained a law degree from George Washington and Andrew entered the financial industry.
After the boys left home, Maryann and Dave made numerous trips to the southwestern U.S. and Ireland. Disney World was a favorite winter and spring vacation destination and summer vacations were spent at Saranac Lake. They made frequent trips to Clinton, N.Y., where Dave had a second office and Maryann’s family is located. Over the years, they had several beloved family dogs, including Ted, Freckles, Lucy, Maisie and Maggie.
Maryann’s medical problems began in 2013 when an operation for diverticulitis led to several months in the ICU and rehabs. After a recovery in 2014, a second operation in 2015 led to more issues. Despite numerous hospital visits in the last two years, Maryann remained resilient and optimistic.
Maryann leaves her husband, David; son Andrew, wife Laura, and grandson Cole in Fairfield; son Colin and wife Akiko in Tokyo, Japan; brother Gary and wife, LeeAnn, in Clinton N.Y., sister Nancy Shaw and husband, Daryl, in Clinton; brother Scott and wife, Judy, in Newark Del.; and numerous extended family members in the Clinton vicinity. She was predeceased by her brother, Tim.
The family will have a private celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory are suggested to the Lyme Public Library or the Lyme Ambulance Association.