BAR HARBOR – Bernard K. “Sonny” Cough, 79, died March 24, 2007, sur-rounded by his family at a Mount Desert Island hospital. He was born July 12, 1927, in Danbury, Conn., the son of Bernard Ezra and Helen Irene (Norton) Cough. Sonny grew up in Bar Harbor and attended local schools. He spent time in the U.S. Navy and then attended the University of Maine in Orono. He was a very successful hotel operator for 40 years, but on the way worked a variety of jobs such as school teacher, television repairman, salvage hauler, drivers education teacher, county sheriff and bartender. He also owned and operated a furniture and appliance store and started the first sightseeing bus tour company in Bar Harbor, with his younger brother, Jimmy. Even with all his time at work, he managed to get out regularly later in life with the people he enjoyed most for competitive tennis matches, a pleasant sail or a downhill ski trip. Many a good time was had on the court, on the water and on the slopes. Sonny was very active on a variety of local and regional committees and boards, and the results of his work will be felt for generations to come. He served three terms on the Bar Harbor Town Council, was a member of the planning board for 20 years and was acting town manager for a short period of time. He was also past president of the Bar Harbor Chamber and a longtime director and winner of the prestigious Cadillac Award, for outstanding service to his community. He was also one of the founding fathers of the College of the Atlantic, was a past director and longtime member of the Maine Innkeepers Association, a past member of the Acadia National Park Advisory Board, the Mount Desert Island YMCA capital campaign, the original Bluenose Committee and served on the board of directors of the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, for years. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sylvia L. (Young) Cough; four children, Suzanne Corbett and husband, Jimmy, Dick Cough, Steve Cough and wife, Ann, all of Bar Harbor and Tom Cough and companion, Rhonda Gilman, of Bucksport; a sister, Barbara Shea, of Tacoma, Wash.; eight grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Sonny was predeceased by his parents; a brother, James P. Cough; and a sister, Janis C. Robbins. Friends are invited to call 4-6 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at Jordan-Fernald, 48 Eden St., Bar Harbor. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 1 p.m. Friday, March 30, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 21 Ledgelawn Ave., Bar Harbor. Interment will be private at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Bar Harbor. Those who desire may make contributions in Sonny’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160B, Portland, ME 04101 or the charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be expressed online at www.jordanfernald.com
BERNARD K. ‘SONNY’ COUGH
