Necrology

Wayne Harold Cook '66

Jul. 18, 1944-Sep. 23, 2020

Wayne Harold Cook ’66 died on Sept. 23, 2020, in Greene, N.Y., his hometown since graduating from Hamilton. Born on July 18, 1944, in Oneida, N.Y., and raised about 25 miles south of there in Sherburne, he came to the College as the valedictorian of his class from Earlville High School. On the Hill, he majored in religion, among the first students to pursue what was at that time a new area of concentration, and immersed himself in mathematics, coming close to completing a major in that field. Wayne was a member of the College Choir for all four years and on the staff of WHCL as record librarian in his junior and senior years.

Upon earning his degree, Wayne was hired in August 1966 by Greene (N.Y.) Central High School (GCHS) to teach mathematics in seventh through 12th grades. He would continue in that post for 33 years, retiring at age 55. In addition to his work in the classroom, Wayne taught photography, a hobby of his, and served for many years as faculty advisor for the high school yearbook, the junior class, and the math club.

His interest in camerawork was matched, if not exceeded, by his love of the arts, particularly opera. He had season tickets both to the Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, N.Y., and to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City; no doubt on Saturday afternoons from late fall through the winter he tuned his radio to Met broadcasts when he was not actually in Lincoln Center. His enthusiasm led him to organize trips to New York for his students to attend performances. As one graduate of GCHS recalled: “Wayne took great pride in introducing people to the opera and sponsored many trips for opera ‘virgins’ to the Met. … Often, he would tailgate in the parking garage at Lincoln Center with a card table, white linen, and gourmet food to die for, drawing envious looks from other attendees.”

Closer to home, Wayne was a supporter of the Moore Memorial Library, Greene’s public library, the school’s music department, and the GCHS soccer team, rewarded at the end of every season with a dinner prepared by him. As a former student recalled: “He was a fabulous chef and loved to entertain. He could do carpentry, sew anything, collected art, took fabulous photos, printed and framed artwork, collected Persian rugs and mid-century Danish teak pieces. He loved life and the people in his life and gave back so much more than he ever took.”

Wayne was a proud alumnus of the College. While his diploma was found in the smallest room in his house, in his bedroom he kept a framed drawing of the campus displayed on the wall. He reportedly even preserved his freshman beanie. Unsurprisingly, he encouraged many of his students to consider Hamilton for their higher education.

Wayne H. Cook is survived by three sisters and the many students and friends whose lives he touched. 

— Obituary prepared in collaboration with Jonathan Hallenbeck ’80

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