GLOUCESTER: In her home on Rocky Neck, looking out over Smith’s Cove, Gloucester Harbor and the City of Gloucester, where she loved to be, Holly Bell Cook died on Tuesday, December 21, at the age of 60. She was with her husband of 23 years, Cleveland Cook, who was the love of her life. Always attentive and adoring of Holly, Cleveland was a godsend during her past two and one-half years living with cancer.
Holly was a Gloucester native and passionate about the place where she and much of her large family lived. One of six children, Holly grew up in Bass Rocks, near Good Harbor Beach and the Back Shore. Her sense of place and community were strong. She enjoyed basking in the sun at the beach, taking brisk walks along the shore, and picnicking before sunset with family and close friends on the granite rocks at Halibut Point. Having gone to high school at Pingree School in Hamilton, MA, Holly attended college at Pine Manor Junior College in Chestnut Hill, MA, followed by McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she received her B.A. in 1974. In the summers, Holly worked at the Rockaway Hotel and The Studio on Rocky Neck as well as The Motif in Rockport. Encouraged by Holly’s contagious affection for Cape Ann, many of her friends from school followed her to Gloucester for summer work and continued to visit each summer in later years. A member of the Cape Ann Garden Club, Holly tended to her seaside gardens at her home, maintaining their beauty and simplicity. She delighted in the camaraderie of the Rocky Neck community.
Holly possessed a combination of youthful innocence and heartfelt interest in and empathy for people. With her special talents for caring and upbeat compassion, Holly helped out many families in need in Gloucester, and throughout the North Shore, as a social worker with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 33 years. A magnet for folks she met throughout her life, Holly had a large coterie of dedicated and wonderful friends from her school days, from life in Gloucester and the North Shore area, and from her travels near and far. Over the last two years, these friendships included people she met on her journey with cancer. She stayed in touch with them, giving and receiving much support, up until her death.
The daughter of the late Harold and Betty Bell, Holly cared deeply about her family. She was particularly devoted to her parents, and was very helpful as they got older. Holly and Cleveland loved to travel together and brought back vivid accounts of their magical travels in Italy, France, and Switzerland. Holly was always eager to be with her many nieces and nephews when they would gather in Gloucester for holidays and family events. Her joy in seeing them was only exceeded by their embrace of her. In addition to her nieces and nephews, Holly is survived by her husband, Cleveland Cook, and her stepdaughter, Christine Cameron Cook of New York City, and by four brothers and a sister, Peter D. Bell, John Bell, Diana Bell, David C. “J.J.” Bell, and Timothy F. Bell.
To remember Holly, a memorial service will be held on Monday morning, February 14th at The Universalist Unitarian Church (Corner of Church and Middle Streets) Gloucester at 11 a.m. For those who wish to attend, a reception will be held immediately following the service at a location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, Holly had requested that those who wish may make donations for the exterior restorations of her two favorite Gloucester spires-- The Universalist Unitarian Church or Gloucester City Hall. (Donation checks should be made out to either The ICC/UU Building Restoration Fund, and mailed to The Independent Christian Church, 10 Church Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 or to The Gloucester Fund, with the notation “City Hall Restoration” on the check, and mailed to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.)