James (Jim) C. Cooke
Fairport, NY
Jim passed away on July 14, 2025 at the age of 79. Predeceased by his parents and brother. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joanie (Arioli) Cooke, son Michael (Paula) Cooke, daughter Mari (Rich) Fiore, sister Debbie Cooke, sister-in-law Jean (Sam) DeLucia, sister- in-law Claire Sementino, his adored grandchildren Marissa, Dylan, Evan Cooke, and Matt, Nic, Claudia Fiore, along with former daughter-in-law Chris Sevcik Cooke and several nieces and nephews, dear relatives and friends.
A native of Rochester, NY, Jim attended Holy Rosary School, where he also served as an altar boy, and graduated from Aquinas Institute in 1964. His best memories are those days with his grammar school friends, playing baseball for KPAA, and following the Yankees. Jim loved the neighborhood where he grew up and especially Cassata’s Bakery, which Jim frequented for their donuts – a treat he savored to the day he died. Jim worked at GEM on Mt. Read Blvd. where he met his wife, Joanie. In 1965 Jim joined the Marine Corps Reserves and served until 1971. In 1964 Jim and Joanie married and raise two beautiful and wonderful children, Mike and Mari, of whom he was so proud. The most exciting thing for Jim was his grandchildren. Blessed with 6 of them, he loved giving them 2 weeks at our condo in North Myrtle Beach each summer so the 2 families could be together and the kids would create memories for the future, since one family lived in Detroit and the other in Rochester. This tradition continues today for the now adult grandchildren. Each year Jim set aside a week for the grandkids to get together at the beach, creating new memories and catching up on each other’s lives. This has kept them very close, now that they are all living in various states.
His career at Eastman Kodak lasted 33 years. He began there as lens polisher working the 3 shifts. In the beginning these shifts were rotated weekly. A few years later, the shifts lasted a month at a time. Jim, always the hard worker, would go in between his Kodak hours to work a second parttime job at J&H Screw Machines on Mill Street in Rochester, where he ran screw machines and lathes. Between the 2 jobs, Jim’s clothes were either covered in pink rouge from polishing, or oil from the machine manufacturing, making it a great challenge for his wife to get clean.
A few years later, when Mike and Mari were babies, Jim (and Joanie) decided to go to college. They planned their schedules for alternate night classes, so that one parent would be home to take care of the kids. After 2 years of this, they decided to have Jim go full time at night, after working all day at Kodak, to get his degree faster. Though having to put Joanie’s studies on hold for a time, doing so gave him a leg up and he went from working on machines to becoming an engineer. His career at Kodak was mostly optics, being promoted all along and running the Copy Products Division at the Elmgrove plant. It was here that Jim did not take an office on the upper floors with the other managers. He decided to take a cubby on the factory floor. At first, the workers were skeptical having their boss right next to their work area. They were used to managers being a distance away in another building or other floor. Jim, having worked on the factory floor, knew the best way to help the workers was to make sure that there was easy access to him, and for him to be available at all times that for them. It didn’t take long before he got their acceptance and support. This made for a great work environment. He also would send his people to courses to get degrees in areas that would secure their continued careers at Kodak. Jim did the very same for his employees while he worked in China.
From 1965 to 1999, Jim held various senior level positions for Kodak, including General Manager of Worldwide Copier Manufacturing. His first assignment was working in Taichung, Taiwan at BASO, which Kodak bought. It was a lens manufacturing facility. He was there from 1985-88 as President before returning to the USA. Jim was ‘head hunted’ by various companies after his retirement because of his experience in Asia. From 1995-1999, he was General Manager of Equipment Manufacturing and Quality Control and Vice President of the Greater China Region for Kodak. From 2000-2003, he was Vice President and Chairman of the China Region for GN Resound, the Danish company that makes hearing aids. In July 2003, he became Vice President of Eye Care for the Asia Pacific region for Advanced Medical Optics (AMO). Jim finally retired in 2005, but continued being busy and involved in real estate in North Myrtle Beach, SC owning several condos and renting them. This was a creative way for him to use his energy and to have reasons to go there 4 times or more a year, because he and Joanie constantly kept up each condo. North Myrtle Beach was their home away from home for 50 years.
Calling hours will be held at Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home, 7501 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd., Fairport, NY on Tuesday, July 22nd from 4-6pm. A mass of Christian burial will be on Wednesday, July 23rd at 11:15am at Assumption Church, 20 East Ave., Fairport, NY. Interment is at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery following the mass.
In lieu of flowers, donation can be made in memory of Jim to The Virtual Center for VCFS, 8138 Solomon Seal Lane, Manlius, NY 13104, info@vcfscenter.com, or to a charity of your choice.
18 responses to “Cooke, James (Jim) C.”
I will miss my brother more than anyone knows love you Jim. Love sis
Jim was a great friend and wonderful person who I will dearly miss. He helped me a lot at Kodak too
He had a difficult time these last 6 months and now is at peace. May God bless him and may he RIP
Our sincere condolences to Joan and his family
I worked with Jim for many years in both Copy Products & in Shanghai. Jim was a great Leader who you worked with & not for. He always challenged me. We had many fun times together in Copy Products & Shanghai.
Dad was my father-in-law. I cannot begin to describe the relationship we had, it covered the entire spectrum. We had many discussions about work, business, finances, cars, “chores”, family, his grandkids, life I general, I can go on. He was my father-in-law, Mari’s father, and Grandpa to Matt, Nic, and Claudia (and Marissa, Dylan, and Evan). Most important to me though, he was my friend. I could talk to him any time about anything, and I did. Jim was an eternal optimist—-“Anyone can accomplish anything”. That has helped me. I miss him immensely, and always will. He is with Mary Jean and Uncle Don now, watching over all of us, and cheering us on—-especially his six grandchildren!!!!!
Rich Fiore
I want to extend my sincerest condolences to Jim’s family. I’m both shocked and saddened to hear of his passing.
I worked with Jim, on several occasions, over our years at Kodak, and he was one of the first people that I met when I began there, in 1971. On a side note, I also was the first renter of his original Myrtle Beach condo. I enjoyed the place so much, I went back 6-7 times during his period of ownership. Those were definitely good times!
Although I hadn’t seen Jim in quite a while, I did speak with him a couple of years ago, and enjoyed catching up with him, and will always consider him as one of the few good friends that I made while at Kodak.
It’s eerily strange how things happen. I was looking up something else, on the internet, and for some reason, Jim’s name popped up in my head. I thought I’d do a search, and see if he was still here, in the Rochester area, or if he had moved to Myrtle Beach.
Instead, I found that he had gone on to his eternal reward. All I can say, is may he rest in peace…
The Veterans Outreach Center extends our deepest sympathy in James’ passing.
We acknowledge and are truly grateful for his service to our country.
Though I only had the chance to meet Jim once, at Claudia’s 21st birthday, it was clear how deeply Mari loved her dad. She spoke about him every day—with such care, strength, and unwavering advocacy for his health and well-being. The bond they shared was beautiful. He called her “Princess,” and they looked so much alike—it always made me smile. My heart aches for my dear friend, but I find comfort in knowing Jim will be watching over Mari, Rich, Matt, Nick, and Claudia with that same love and pride. May his memory be a blessing, always.
My condolences to Jim’s family.
I worked for Jim for several years at Kodak. He was committed to developing people and helping them to reach their full potential. He genuinely cared about his team. When I was working in Mexico, he asked me to bring my wife to dinner, he wanted to be sure that my family was adjusting well. That was Jim, always caring about others.
God Bless our Aguinas Brother.
Jim was truly a fantastic human and my wife and I thought more of him as family then we did as a client: prayers and love.
Jim you will always be missed aunt viola and Uncle Al always look forward to seeing you a Christmas and you always were there every year mom always look forward to that day and you never disappointed her God bless you Jim love Ron your cousin
Jim and I worked together in Shanghai, China from 1995 to 2000. I will miss Jim and we were more than co-workers, we were very good friends.
My sincere condolences to Jim’s wife, children and extended family. I had the honor and privilege of working with Jim in both GN Resound and AMO, in China and when he visited HQ’s in Denmark and California. He was greatly respected and loved by his team in China and continued his career history of supporting and caring for them by his hands on approach and sharp business mind. Jim and I continued our friendship through email contact in recent years. I will miss him. May he rest in peace.
My sincere condolences to Jim’s family on his sad passing. I worked with Jim at GN Resound in China, he was an inspirational mentor, colleague and most importantly friend. Jim always treated people with the utmost respect and humility, he was loved by those who worked for him and with him. His leadership style was years ahead. He always got the best from people and always did the best for people. May he rest in peace.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
May his soul be at the right hand of the Lord (Irish blessing)
Jim was an exceptional leader who led the team with grit and compassion. Although he returned to the US to take the global role at AMO 20 years ago, we never stopped talking about him affectionately till this day. He was always the fun and visionary leader who led the way, loyal to his folks and was fully committed to developing the team – insisting on the 40-hour training hours KPI per year for all employees. I can now connect the dots after reading the obituary why he was obsessed with continuous learning and development. He would lead us for field visits. Customers just adored him. I recall an incident when he stood up at a meeting and told a key customer (doctor) to stop passing denigrating remarks of our employees, warning that we would stop working with him if he continued. That’s what I call a LEADER! Jim also taught me to see the goodness and strengths in people – a value I will always remember and uphold. He was always to the first to arrive at the HK office (7nish!!!) followed by me. I had the privilege to spend the mornings learning from him, talking about the business and always people development. He is exceptionally open to new ideas. Not to mention his passion for food. I learnt a lot from him and will miss him a lot. After he left corporate world, we kept in touch. He would always reply timely to my messages. And knowing Jim, it is almost always “one line”. A bonus if it exceeds. Short but powerful to convey his thoughts/ feelings… You can literally feel his care for the people.
May you and your family find strength and comfort in the cherished memories you shared together. Jim is very proud of you and his children, grandchildren and will always share them with us! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I remember Jim from holy roasary school . He was so cheerful. Wish I would have kept up with him .He will be missed by many.
Jim:
My sincere condolences to Jim, Joanie and extended family. Joanie and Jim you are great family & I was so saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. I remember when you both met Jeffrey my son Joanie just thought he was such a gem and he was. God Bless you
may God shine over your family for eternity
God Bless- Keri Drexel & Jeffrey (son) deceased
Jim:
My sincere condolences to Jim, Joanie and extended family. Joanie and Jim you are great family & I was so saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. I remember when you both met Jeffrey my son Joanie just thought he was such a gem and he was. God Bless you
may God shine over your family for eternity
God Bless- Keri Drexel & Jeffrey (son) deceased