Jerry

Jerome Oliver Cooley

January 31, 2024

Jerome Oliver Cooley, 96, of Cicero, died peacefully in the early morning hours of January 31, 2024 at St. Joseph's Hospital. He had proudly lived at his home on Maple Bay, Oneida Lake, since 1955, calling it the "quietest place on earth," until recent setbacks required two weeks of care at the hospital and the Cottages.

He was born in Utica April 8, 1927 to Mabel Anna Wilkins and Francis Oliver Cooley. Jerome grew up on Harter Place, attended Lourdes School and often traveled to nearby Clinton for family outings at his grandmother's. His adventuresome early teenage years featured solo Snowtrain trips to ice skate in Old Forge, Adirondack camping getaways with his dog Pat, and running away to Baltimore in hopes of earning much more than his paper boy income.

In the summer of '44 he graduated from Utica Catholic Academy then got a job at a youth camp in Inlet which led to evenings of fun and dance at the Eagle Bay Trading Post. However, the scope of his life changed dramatically in late August when as a 17 year old he enlisted in the United States Navy. As a quartermaster on LSM 440, he sailed to the Asiatic Pacific, supported forces in Japan, and got the opportunity to discover many exotic ports. His only setback was being disciplined in California for staying out past hours to see favorite actress Rita Hayworth in person.

Jerome's post war return home in 1946 coincided with the opening of Utica College where the next year he met Marilyn O'Dowd. Fueled by the GI Bill, Marilyn and Jerome transferred to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., for journalism degrees. They married in Utica in 1952 and settled in Syracuse.

Jerome's journalism career began as editor of the Watkins Glen Review, which was followed by a similar position with the Waverly Sun. He then became a fixture for nearly 40 years as a copy and news editor for the Syracuse Herald Journal. He was an officer of the Syracuse Press Club and as a member of the Town of Cicero Parks and Recreation Commission helped secure the William family donation of waterfront land which is now a beautiful town park. He was a longtime communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church, a Meals on Wheels volunteer, and a significant blood donor to American Red Cross.

Jerome was a kind person who helped downtown acquaintances who were down on their luck, put up family and friends for years at his waterfront camp, and became a surrogate Dad to high school friends of his son Pete. After retirement, Jerome would travel anywhere and everywhere with Marilyn, whether it be multiple drives to Alaska, vacations with his brothers, setting up her post card shows, or going to sporting and equestrian competitions featuring their grandchildren. He became very involved with the LSM/LSMR Association of the US Navy, attending their nationwide conferences of World War II veterans for over two decades until attrition inevitably ended the organization. At home, he relished late night classic movies, watched any tennis that was broadcast, and loved singing Broadway tunes. He read 4 newspapers a day, wrote in eloquent cursive to contacts around the country, and accumulated so many books that the floors under his wall length shelves had to be reinforced.

Surviving Jerome are son Jon (Deborah), daughter Shawna (William) Gunter, daughter Anne (Kathleen Czerwiak), daughter-in-law Mary Bronner, granddaughters Tara Mellor, Kelsey Holbrook, Mackenzie Cooley, and Lauren Cooley; great-grandsons Evan Mellor, Carter Holbrook, and Aristaeus Brege; and great-granddaughters Charlie Holbrook, Ainsley Mellor, and Artemis Brege.

Jerome was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Marilyn; son Peter, daughter Gretchen, and brother Frank.

Also surviving Jerome are brother David Cooley and his wife, Carol; and sister-in-law Patricia Cooley, as well as nieces Sandra Collings, Allison Couch, Jody Cooley Dydynski and Jeane Ferrando; nephews David Cooley and Chris Cooley; and cousins Annette Foley, Bill Matteson, Jim Hoff, and Jim Dawes.

The family extends special thanks to Dr. Telonis and his staff for decades of wonderful health guidance and Dr. Robert's at St. Joseph's Hospital for her compassionate comfort care.

Since Jerry had regaled his peers at the Cottages with stories of the total eclipse coinciding with his birthday, the family has decided to have the services and celebration of his life on Monday, April 8. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bridgeport, with family onsite at 10:30 AM to greet guests. Burial will be at approximately 1 PM at St. Mary's Cemetery in Clinton.

Donations honoring Jerome may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 7820 Bridgeport – Minoa Road, Bridgeport, NY 13030 or the Stetson Law School Office of Development & Alumni Engagement, Nenezian-Jones-Cooley Scholarship, 1401 61st St. South, Gulfport, Florida 33707-3299.