Ralph A. Cocove, Sr., the mayor of
Upper Deerfield Township, died Thursday morning, July 24, 2008,
surrounded by his family at his home in Upper Deerfield, after fighting
a battle with colon cancer and kidney disease. He was 70 years old.
Born in Cedarville, he was the firstborn child of the late Anthony
Cocove, Sr. and Mary Musumeci Cocove. He attended Oakleaf and Immaculate
Conception Elementary Schools and graduated from Bridgeton High School
in 1955. Ralph graduated from Goldey-Beacom College in 1957 with an
associate degree in accounting and business administration. During his
college years he worked in the banking industry in Wilmington, Del.
After college he was the manager and partner of the Pete and Fannie
Grocery Store in Cedarville, until 1959, when they closed for
retirement. In 1959 Ralph began his career at Farmer’s and Merchants
National Bank, starting as a bookkeeper. In November of 1959 he was
transferred to the West Side Branch as a teller. He was transferred to
the main downtown office where he started his career in the loan
department. Over the years he advanced his career to Executive Vice
President and Cashier. During his officership he was involved in many
areas of banking. After 41 years of service he retired in 2001.
Ralph served in the U. S. Army from 1961 to 1963, where he was stationed
at Gissen, Germany.
He was a part-time bookkeeper for the Fairton Marina for many years in
the early 70’s and 80’s. During those years he also raised several acres
of strawberries and ran a small roadside market with his family in Upper
Deerfield.
He was an active member of Immaculate Conception Church, where he served
as an usher and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Liverty Counsel
1910, the Men of Malvern, Parish Counsel and the Holy Name Society.
Ralph was a dedicated public servant who served as a member of the Upper
Deerfield Township Committee for the past 24 years, both as a mayor and
a deputy mayor and as a constable for Cumberland County. He was the
chairman of the finance committee and served on the following
committees: Planning Board, Personnel, Utility and Senior Center. He
belonged to the New Jersey Association of Mayors and was an officer on
the Cumberland Development Corporation.
Ralph enjoyed being with his family and friends. He had many hobbies and
was honored to serve his community and will be missed by many.
He is survived by his wife of 4
years, Sandra Janker Cocove. He was preceded in death by his first wife,
Anna Sorbello Cocove, to whom he had been married for 31 years. He is
also survived by his children: Ralph A. Cocove, Jr. and his wife Michele
of Upper Deerfield, Roseann Spatafore and her husband Ronald of Upper
Deerfield and Christine Cocove of Glassboro; a step-daughter Kelli Ball
and her husband Douglas of Upper Deerfield; four grandchildren, Ronald
Spatafore, Rachelle Spatafore, Samantha Cocove and Dominic Cocove; his
siblings, Mary Lamey of Woolwich, Jeanette Ganio of Vineland, Anthony
Cocove, Jr. of Virginia and Michael Cocove of Upper Deerfield.
His Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate
Conception, 312 North Pearl St., Bridgeton, on Wednesday morning, July
30th, at 10:00 O’clock.
Burial will be in Overlook Cemetery, Bridgeton.
A viewing will be held at the PADGETT FUNERAL HOME, 1107 State Highway
77, Upper Deerfield Township, on Tuesday evening between 6:00 and 8:00
O’clock and on Wednesday morning between 8:00 and 9:00 O’clock.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations, in Mr. Cocove’s
memory, to South Jersey HealthCare-HospiceCare, P. O. Box 160 Bridgeton,
N. J. 08302.
Written condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home
website at www.padgettfuneralhome.com.
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