ORLAND – Bradford Walter Cook, 61, died Sept. 18, 2005. He was born June 29, 1944, in Calais, the son of the late Rev. Walter and Rev. Merle (Cole) Cook of Bangor. He attended Bangor public schools and the University of Maine, where he received bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in English and a certificate in speech therapy. Brad was employed as an organist for the Elm Street Congregational Church, Bucksport, and as a speech therapist at Lamoine Consolidated School. He also gave music lessons, tuned pianos, and in different periods of his life worked as a jazz pianist and composer, a cocktail waiter, a social worker, an English teacher, a beekeeper, a newspaper reporter, and had been a speech therapist in the Belfast area and Blue Hill area schools, and a church organist in Hancock, East Holden, Orland, Searsport, and in two other churches in Bucksport. Brad was known for his musical talent and his offbeat, wry sense of humor. He is survived by his wife, Kristin; his daughter, Jennifer and husband, Randy McKinley; granddaughter, Sarah; brother, Merlyn and wife, Sylvia Cook, of St. Louis, Mo.; nieces, Dr. Rachel Cook and Rebecca Cook; his uncle, Burpee Cole and wife, Hazel; mother-in-law, Jean Selmer-Larsen; brother-in-law, Johan Selmer-Larsen and wife, Joan Proudman; brother-in-law, Kimball and wife, Lipika Selmer-Larsen; nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed. A Memorial service to celebrate Brad’s life will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Elm Street Congregational Church, Bucksport, with the Rev. Linda Smith officiating. A reception will immediately follow at Brown Hall. Those who wish may make donations in Brad’s memory to the Elm Street Congregational Church Organ Fund, P.O. Box 878, Bucksport, ME 04416. Arrangements by Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.
BRADFORD WALTER COOK
