William Herbert Mook III

William Herbert Mook III, M.D., 87, died Sept. 5, 2007, at home in Cooperstown, surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara (Ives) Mook; a brother, Henry K. Mook of Williamsburg, Va.; and six children, Barbara Richards and her husband, Rob, of Mystic, Conn., Carolyn Mook of Cooperstown, Anne Frost and her husband, Chris, of Dobbs Ferry, Cleo Mook and her husband, Pete Collopy, of Troy, William H. Mook and his wife, Karen (Corwin), of Sheepscott, Maine, and Georgia Cosgrove and her husband, Sean, of Duxbury, Mass. In addition, he leaves 19 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Bill was born in Yonkers, the son of William Herbert and Mildred (Kaltenbach) Mook.
He attended Horace Mann School for Boys, graduating in 1937, and received his bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., in 1941. While at Wesleyan he played on the tennis team and swam on the varsity swim team.
He continued his education in an accelerated medical school program during World War II at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in 1944.
After completing his internship at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown in 1945, he served as lieutenant (jg) in the United States Naval Reserve from 1945-1946. He continued his medical training at Bassett Hospital and completed his residency in 1949.
He was a public health trainee in cardiology at the University of Washington in Seattle from 1949-1950.
After practicing as a member of the Rip Van Winkle Clinic in Hudson, Dr. Mook returned to Bassett Hospital as assistant physician in 1952.
During the Korean War, he was again called to active duty in the United States Navy from 1952-1954.
He resumed his medical practice at Bassett Hospital, where he was an attending physician specializing in internal medicine and endocrinology and associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University.
In keeping with his belief in the importance of education, Dr. Mook served on the Board of Education at Cooperstown Central School from 1958-1973, and he presented diplomas to all six of his children upon their graduation from high school.
He also served as Otsego public health officer and was the attending physician for the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home and County Nursing Home.
Throughout their marriage, Bill and his wife, Bobbie, shared a love of jazz and were a striking couple on the dance floor. Bill was an avid sailor and enjoyed racing on Lake Otsego, sailing the coasts of Maine and Rhode Island, and exploring the waters of the British Virgin Islands.
A natural athlete, he skied, played squash and tennis, and later in life developed a special passion for the game of golf, taking great pleasure in its competition and camaraderie.
After retirement in 1986, Bill and Bobbie enjoyed extensive travel and spent happy hours with family and friends at their camp on Lake Otsego.
He was beloved by his many grandchildren who appreciated his gentle nature and dry wit.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown. A gathering of friends and family will follow the service.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Catskill Area Hospice Hope Foundation, 1 Birchwood Drive, Dept. FH, Oneonta, NY 13820 or Friends of Bassett, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.