S. HAMILTON: Edward M. Cookson, 64, retired teacher, died Friday, October 17, 2008 at his home following a brief illness. He was the husband of Virginia M. (Small) Cookson.
Born in Beverly on January 1, 1944, he was the son of the late George E. and Josephine M. (Pisani) Cookson. He had resided in Beverly for many years before moving to S. Hamilton in 1970. He was a graduate of Beverly High School class of 1961, received his BA degree in Biology from Merrimack College in 1965 and a Master’s degree in Education from the former Boston State College in 1967.
Ed was employed as a science teacher at Salem High School for twenty-eight years before his retirement in 1998. He was a member of the Merrimack College Alumni Choral and the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association. He loved gardening, woodworking, cooking and was a voracious reader. He especially enjoyed the time spent in York, Maine with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, Virginia, he is survived by five aunts, Margaret Mirandi and Vera Flint both of Beverly, Evelyn Mobilia of Medford, Yolanda Essler and Gloria Durkee both of Danvers, an uncle, Michael Pisani of Beverly, several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Josephine and Joseph Donahue of Scituate, Mary and Ronald Frazier of Braintree, Elizabeth and Edward Pesci of Greensburg, PA, Irving Small, Jr. and Robert Small both of Hanson, MA, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and many dear friends. He was also predeceased by five aunts, Ernestine Pinciaro, Olga Stewart, Helen Rossi, Rosemary Pisani and Shirley Levesque and an uncle, Anthony Pisani.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday in the Church of St. Paul, 50 Union St., Hamilton at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the VNACare Network & Hospice, 5 Federal St., Danvers, MA 01923. Interment will be held in the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beverly.