Elise Dallemagne-Cookson
(1933-2005)
The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY
December 5, 2005
Cherry Valley - Mrs. Elise Camille Dallemagne-Cookson, 72,
of Cherry Valley passed away Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, at her home.
She was born in Tarrytown on March 31, 1933, the second daughter of
Edmund and Irene (Poisson) Cookson of Peekskill.
Before retiring to Cherry Valley in 1989, Elise lived and worked
in Hollywood, Africa, Argentina, Europe, the Caribbean and South Seas.
She was the wife of the late Capt. Pierre George Dallemagne of the
Belgian Merchant Navy, explorer of the Belgian Congo, teacher and
oceanographer. They had two sons, Pierre Edmund Dallemagne and Maj.
Paul Charles Dallemagne, USAF.
Elise purchased and restored her home in Cherry Valley in 1987 and
made it her permanent home two years later.
She started a foreign language program for the elementary and middle
school at Cherry Valley-Springfield and was instrumental in developing
a sister school/exchange student program between CV-S High School
and schools in France and Spain.
She retired from teaching in 1991, and began a career in writing.
She published "The Bearded Lion Who Roars," a memoir of
the Belgian Congo at the time of its independence; "The Ombu
Tree," a novel based on her life as a farmer in Argentina; "The
Filmmaker," a novel based on her work in Hollywood after the
McCarthy era; "The Red-Eye Fever - Adventures in the Belgian
Congo," a memoir of pre-independence years; and "Marie Grandin
- Sent by the King," a historical novel based on the life of
her ancestors in 17th century Canada. She had just completed two other
books, as of yet unpublished: "The Peru Story" and a biography
of the 20th century French portrait artist, Jean Tabaud.
Mrs. Dallemagne is survived by her son, Paul, and his wife, Katherine
(Graham), and their two children, Magdeleine and Paul Robert of Cambridge;
two sisters, Julianne (Hugh) O'Connor of Scituate, Mass., and Irene
(Gerard) Burke of Gaithersburg, Md.; three brothers, Maryknoll Missioner
Father Edmund Cookson of Yunguyo, Peru, Capt. John (Donna) Cookson,
USN retired, of Woodstock, Md., and Dr. Peter (Karen) Cookson, M.D.,
of Sharon Springs; and many nieces, nephews, dear friends and former
students. She was predeceased by her son, Pierre, in 1996.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, at St.
Thomas Church, Cherry Valley, with Father John Roos and Father Edmund
Cookson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Elise's memory may be made to
the Pierre Dallemagne Science Foundation at Cherry Valley-Springfield
Central School, Cherry Valley, NY 13320.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
