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Long-time school teacher, councillor remembered fondly

Cocks made the grade in everything she did professionally and in family life
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Cathe Cocks celebrated many birthdays in style during her 94 years. (Photo submitted)

A beloved Chemainus teacher, respected in the political arena as well as the classroom, is being remembered as a dynamic and dedicated person.

Cathe Cocks died Feb. 27 at the Chemainus Health Care Centre. She was 94.

Cocks started teaching at a young age and many of her former students are scattered around the Cowichan Valley, some now into their 80s.

In addition to her long teaching career, Cocks became a North Cowichan councillor in 1988 and served in that capacity, along with being deputy mayor for a time, until 1999.

“I served with Cathe on council for, I believe, nine years,” said Glen Ridgway. “I knew her before and after.”

He admired Cocks for her work ethic and great sense of humour.

“I could give her a rough time and she could give and take it,” added Ridgway. “I really liked her. She was terrific.”

He said while many politicians are known for giving excessive speeches, Cocks wasn’t one of them. But Ridgway enjoyed the camaraderie among the council members and the social time they enjoyed together.

“The world was so different back then,” he confided. “We had a very close council, all pulling in the same direction – right or wrong.”

Daughter Kelle Maag noted her mom was “a pioneer, a real trailblazer.”

Cocks (nee Chisholm) was born in Vancouver and attended Normal School for teacher training before starting her career at Cowichan High School after marrying Murray Cocks in 1949.

She continued her teaching career in the Cowichan Valley around taking time off to have three children. After moving to Chemainus in 1967, she taught so many living in the community at the time at Chemainus Elementary School until her retirement in 1987.

“With three school age children, she went back to UVic in the summer months – her teacher’s holiday – and obtained her Masters degree,” noted Maag. “I believe it took three or four summers. Years after she retired, she would have past students come up to her in the street and give her a big hug and tell her she was their favourite teacher. She cared about her students and they knew this. Even the most marginalized of students knew that Mrs. Cocks genuinely cared about their well being. She made a difference in peoples’ lives. She was a people person and could talk to anyone.”

Her mom valued higher education, Maag added, so there was never any debate about whether her children or grandchildren would attend university. Maag became a lawyer as did two of Cocks’ granddaughters, two grandsons became engineers and her other grandson established a career in wealth management.

Maag indicated her mom and her sister Margaret Rossi traveled the world back when it wasn’t yet popular to do so.

”She had a real sense of adventure,” noted Maag.

Besides travel, Cocks loved to play golf and bridge in her spare time while enjoying the grandchildren.

“‘Grandma’ was revered as a strong, independent woman – a force to be reckoned with but not feared,” Maag declared. “She had a quick wit and sense of humour.”

There is no service at Cocks’ request. When able to, the families are planning to get together and “it is guaranteed there will be days of story telling about adventures with grandma and much laughter,” summed up Maag.


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don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca

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Cathe Cocks drew admiration and respect as a teacher and a North Cowichan councillor. (Photo submitted)
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Cathe Cocks played a mean game of golf. She was a long-time member of the Mt. Brenton Golf Club and won the club championship a couple of times. She golfed until the age of 86. (Photo submitted)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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