Sally Cooke Bull, recently of Darien, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023 at Maplewood of Darien. She was 90.
Sally Bull, 90, passed away April 9. Her funeral will be held May 13.
She was born on July 20, 1932 in Montclair, NJ, to the late C. Gordon Cooke and Bertha Fulton Cooke.
Sally grew up in Essex Fells, New Jersey, an insulated, idyllic suburb near New York City. She went from a tomboy trying to keep up with her older brothers to the debutante life of cotillions and ball gowns.
She graduated from Kimberley Academy in 1950 and won the prestigious “Old English K” that year. The school awarded this prize to ” the girl in the senior class with many outstanding qualifications.” Well done!
She left her hometown of Essex Fells and traveled to New London, New Hampshire, to attend Colby Junior College for Women. After college, she returned home, worked as a medical secretary, and rekindled her high school friendships.
She was an adoring younger sister and never passed up an opportunity to visit her brother, “Cookie,” at UPenn when a football game or mixer at the Psi U Fraternity was happening. Marriage was on her mind.
She was married in 1954 and lived in Fairport, New York, for almost 55 years. She made lifelong friendships while raising her family here.
Her life blossomed when she turned 60. She was a Volunteer EMT at the Perinton Ambulance, a member of the Rochester Chatterbox Club and TWIG. She was active on the tennis court and golf course, walked along the many beaches on the west coast of Florida, and traveled the world with friends and her partner, Dick Fuller.
Sally had a lifelong passion for the West. Her family had a cabin (affectionately called “camp”) in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The land came into their family through her mother’s father, Dr. Charles Herman Fulton, president of the School of Mines in Rapid City, South Dakota, from 1906 to 1911.
Sally spent every summer at camp with her family and friends from the East Coast who could make the long trek to the hills. Her summers were unique when compared to her peers. She learned to ride horses and ride atop wagons piled with hay; fish, gut and filet fish; cook in high altitude, drive a 1940s Packard on “gumbo” mud roads, and live without electricity, indoor plumbing, or a phone. Along with all those talents, she learned to speak up, be brave, and take risks. Not to worry, she found time to develop many a crush on real cowboys.
Anyone who knew Sally was drawn to her kindness, compassion, and listening skills. Her fun nature and joyful attitude are legendary; she was always up for an adventure. Wink, wink.
Although she was blessed with many close friends in Rochester, she always made room for new friends. The friendships at Maplewood were precious to her. She loved getting to know people and sharing her stuffed animals, antiques, Western art collections, and a glass of wine or three.
Sally is survived by her three children, Christie Bull Teachman (John) of Louisiana, Andrea McDonough (Peter) of Rowayton and Brenna Brochhausen (Jim) of Vermont. She also is survived by her grandchildren: Catherine, Caroline, Pete, Alexandria, James and Will. Sally was predeceased by two brothers: Donald F. Cooke and Charles G. Cooke; and one grandchild, Charlotte Brochhausen.
She would ask everyone, “How can I help you”? Dear Sally/Mom/Nonie: You helped us all. Thank you.
We will all miss her light, smile, and caring ways. “Happy trails to you until we meet again …”
A memorial service will be held at Saint Luke’s Parish Chapel, Darien at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 13, 2023.
— an obituary from Lawrence Funeral Home, where online condolences may be left
Editor’s note: An “Exceptional Obituary” published by Darienite.com is exceptional through some combination of particularly interesting writing or particularly interesting life it describes.