Raymond B. Cook

So sorry to read of Mr. Cook's passing. I was privileged to know him as vice principal and then as principal at Westminster when I attended in the late 60's. He was always a fair and understanding man with me and I will never forget him. Please know that he made a difference in a lot of people's lives, some that you may never know. Please accept my sincere condolences.

We knew Ray first as a chemistry teacher at South Collegiate, later as a principal at Montcalm. He was very strict but very fair in his dealings with students and staff. He was a tremendous supporter of high school athletics. Our sincere condolences to Brandon, Leticia and Kathleen on the loss off your dear Grandpa.

I will forever remember Mr. Cook as a fine and kind man. As my first principal at Montcalm he will always be remembered as "the Bear". I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Know that he made a difference to so many.

My condolences to Ray's family. Last week I told a story when eulogizing Bertie Watts who past away two weeks ago . . . "There was a group of retired principals from his era and their wives who met monthly for lunch. There were over a dozen of them at first, I believe, but he told me that slowly over the years one after the other died. Bertie said there must be something special about principals because they seemed to out live there wives. Apparently, when it got down to Ed Tufts, Bernie Jackson and Ray Cook only Mrs. Tufts was still alive and I believe she still is. I thought Bertie would out live them all, but that was not to be. I drove him to these meeting where they talked and reminisced and I just sat there and listened with interest them putting the world to rights. Then when Ed tufts died. . . Now I must tell you a story about when Bertie slipped on ice and broke his hip. This happened while going for the bus to see Bernie Jackson who was in university hospital where he himself was recovering from a broken hip. But that same week Ray Cook had also slipped and broke his foot with complications and ended up in the same hospital. How ironic was that. Here was I visiting Bertie and finding out all this and I ended up getting Ray into a wheelchair and pushing him around to see his comrades where they all had a good chuckle over their circumstances." The irony is that all three passed away in the last two weeks. The end of an era. Three great and respected educators. I loved them all.

Our condolences to all family members on the passing of Uncle Raymond. He will be dearly missed by everyone. Wayne & Susan Peck

DEAR IAN AND FAMILY MEMBERS;I AM SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF THE RECENT PASSING OF A TRUE HUMANITARIAN AND A FINE EDUCATOR FOR THE THAMESVALLEY SCHOOL BOARD HERE IN OUR FAIR CITY OF LONDON,ONTARIO.BEING BORN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY ON JUNE27,1953, IN PERTH,ONTARIO,AND BEGINNING MY HIGHSCHOOL CAREER AT WETMINISTER HIGH ON SEPTEMBER2,1968-JUNE 1972,AND COMPLETING BUSINESS COURSES AT FANSHAWE COLLEGE IN MAY 1975,YOUR FATHER ALWAYS SAID BRIAN KEEP RUNNING FOR THE ROSES SO TO SPEAK AND IT WILL PAY ULTIMATE DIVIDENDS FOR YOU AND YOURS IN FUTURE I AM SURE.HE ALSO HAD A FONDNESS FOR HIGHSCHOOL SPORTS AT WESTMINISTER,I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN WE WON THE CITY SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN NOVEMBER 1970 AND YOURS TRULY ENDED UP IN THE SHOWER THAT THURSDAY AFTERNOON,CORTESY OF THE PLAYERS AS TEAM STATISTICIAN,BUT OVERNIGHT I GOT DRIED OUT FROM THESE ACTIVITIES AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME MY CLASSES THAT FRIDAY,THE TOUGHOLD MAN THAT I AM AT 63 YEARS YOUNG AND STILL TRUCKING ALONG AS THEY SAY.IT HAS BEEN OUR PRIVILEDGE TO RETURN THE FAVOUR TO FORMER WESTMINISTER TEACHERS,GRACE EARLY,PETER MORNINGSTAR,AND OF COURSE ,THE LEADER OF THE SHIP WAY BACK WHEN IN THOSE DAYS YOUR DAD.THANKS EVERY SO MUCH FOR THIS PRVILEDGE IN CAREING FOR OUR LOYAL TEACHERS AND TRUE FRIENDS AS ALWAYS.MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND LEAD YOU ALL FORWARD TO BETTER TIMES AHEAD IN ALL YOUR PERSPECTIVE INDIVIDUAL CAREERS AND LIVES WITH OUR BLESSINGS FROM THIS DAY FORWARD.YOURS SINCERELY BRIAN CROSS CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENATIVE MAIN DESK PARKWOOD HOSPITAL LONDON,ONTARI.

(Donated to Veterans Care, Parkwood Institute)

(Donated to Children's Health Foundation)