Paul Cooke

Edward Paul Cooke, age 81 of Wayne, died on Monday, July 8, 2024. He lived in Wayne since 1966.

Paul grew up in Haledon NJ at 339 Southside Avenue. He was the son of loving parents Lee and Helen Cooke and younger brother of Lee Cooke. Lee and Paul enjoyed an active childhood playing with friends in the neighborhood, including stickball games, complete with the occasional broken window and accompanying apology. The Cookes treasured family celebrations and summer trips down the shore with cousins.  In 1961 he graduated from DePaul Diocesan High School in Wayne where he was captain of the football team. He completed his undergraduate studies at Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He then earned a Master of Science in Operations Research and Management Science from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. Paul was excited to embark on his professional career with IBM in Software Systems Development and advanced to Regional Manager leading the business development and growth of IBM’s hardware, software and services business in the NY, NJ and CT area.

He left IBM in 1986 to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Real Decisions Corporation, an IT consulting and software development company in Stamford CT.  In 1994 Paul became President and Director of UMS Group Inc., an international consulting firm in Parsippany NJ.  In 1999 he accepted the position of President and Director of Ceridian Consulting in Norwalk CT, a subsidiary of Ceridian Corporation, providing IT consulting services to Fortune 1000 clients.  In 2003 Paul joined InComm Solutions Inc, a technology-based multi-media teleconferencing company in Glen Rock, NJ where he then served as Co-President until he retired in 2013.

At DePaul, Paul met Janet Scelba who was one year below him.  They enjoyed frequent ice cream dates at the Old Barn Milk Bar and attended each other’s Senior Proms.  After Paul finished college, he proposed to Janet and they were married on August 6, 1966 at Holy Cross RC Church in Wayne. They honeymooned in Bermuda before settling in Wayne. Paul and Janet were strongly unified as parents and built a family based on their faith. Paul was an active dad who never missed an opportunity to be at his children’s sports events and spent years coaching baseball and basketball. He even coached their soccer teams, despite having little knowledge of the game!  It was a priority that he be there for them, and he always was. His children recall many great family times and wonderful memories throughout the years, including annual family ski trips to Split Rock PA and Stratton VT, vacations to Disney World, and of course summers at the family house on Long Beach Island. Paul and Janet made LBI a second home and every summer made many drives to and from Wayne and any baseball field their grandson was playing on.  He also enjoyed cheering on the Yankees and Giants with family.  

Paul was also a dedicated and loving Poppy to his six grandchildren. Although a well-established disciplinarian when raising his own children, he quickly took on a different role when he became a grandfather.  One of his favorite sayings was “Poppys don’t say no!” and he delivered on that proclamation time and again. Poppy and Grammy were a well-recognized enthusiastic presence at many auditoriums and sidelines, from dance and piano recitals and school concerts to baseball, field hockey and soccer fields. Paul quickly familiarized himself with the nuances of any activity his grandchildren were involved in, offering helpful suggestions when needed. At any stage of their lives, his grandchildren could count on Poppy to be an interested listener with always heartfelt advice and unwavering support.

Paul was raised with a strong Catholic foundation and he continued to nurture his faith with Janet over the years. He was devoted to Our Lady of the Valley in Wayne where he served as usher for many years and was a member of the Holy Name Society.  During their summers on LBI, Paul and Janet attended St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Beach Haven where he also served as an usher. Sharing God’s grace with others was important to Paul, and he valued spending time volunteering at Eva’s Village in Paterson through the years.  Now, in justice, God has given Paul Eternal Rest.  We are all better people for having known him.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-eight years Janet; their three children: Paul Cooke and his wife Jennifer of Cranbury, Linda Wright and her husband David of North Haledon, and Lauren Cooke of Belleville; six grandchildren: Paul, Grace, Erin, Jack, Finley, and Owen, his brother Lee Cooke and his wife Patricia of Spring Lake Heights, their children Brian and Meredith, as well as extended family.

For those wishing to make a donation in Paul’s memory, please consider Eva’s Village in Paterson. www.evasvillage.org.