Leonard E. Cookney
October 2, 1935 — March 16, 2006
Leonard E. Cookney, 70, an attorney in Stamford for 45 years, died March 16, 2006, of Lou Gehrigs Disease in the Hospital for Special Care, New Britain, CT.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, he graduated from Stamford High School 1953 and from Fordham Law School. He practiced law for most of the 45 years in Stamford on Bedford Street.
He is survived by his wife Betty Ann Cookney of 45 years; his son, Craig and wife Linda of Port Orange, Florida and their two children Shawn and Shane; his daughter, Cheryl and her husband James of Easton, CT. and their two children Kristen and Brandon; and his son Colin and his wife Michele of Littleton, CO. He was predeceased by his parents Ernest and Margaret Cookney.
In 1980, attorney Cookney was appointed by Mayor Louis Clapes as Corporation Counsel for Stamford. He joined the Mayors cabinet, which was non partisan and strong believers that the City should be run as a major business for the benefit of the residents.
The law department was reorganized with each attorney assigned to a specialty. Attendance at legal seminars was encouraged. Civil service tests for legal secretaries were instituted. The law library was expanded. The first word processing computer for the City was acquired by attorney Cookney. Legal rulings were issued for all written questions from department heads. Real estate tax appeals by corporate real estate developers were strongly resisted. Attorney Cookney always went to court to defend the Mayor or the administration.
Attorney Cookney was particularly proud of a comprehensive Municipal Code of Ethics that he wrote and obtained Board of Representative approval. Although he had also included financial disclosures for department heads and appointed board and commissions, the rest of the Code of Ethics was adopted almost intact. It established a Board of Ethics that continues to serve today. The Code has only been amended in recent years, resulting from specific ethical issues.
While very busy, Mr. Cookney was persuaded by his youngest son to coach and manage the Stamford Savings Bank National Little League team. He often came directly from Court to baseball practice. His team won the league title two year running. Not one parent complaint.
He was also member and past president of the North Stamford Exchange Club, member of the Stamford Senior Mens Club and an active member of St. Leos Roman Catholic Church.
The family will receive friends at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Friday March 17, 2006 from 4:00 8:00 PM.
A funeral procession will be leaving the funeral home at 10:00 AM on Saturday March 18, 2006 and proceed to St. Leos RC Church, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Fairfield Memorial Park, Oaklawn Avenue, Stamford.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to The ALS Association (Lou Gehrigs Disease) National Office, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 150, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301-5104. www.cognetta.com
Born in Brooklyn, NY, he graduated from Stamford High School 1953 and from Fordham Law School. He practiced law for most of the 45 years in Stamford on Bedford Street.
He is survived by his wife Betty Ann Cookney of 45 years; his son, Craig and wife Linda of Port Orange, Florida and their two children Shawn and Shane; his daughter, Cheryl and her husband James of Easton, CT. and their two children Kristen and Brandon; and his son Colin and his wife Michele of Littleton, CO. He was predeceased by his parents Ernest and Margaret Cookney.
In 1980, attorney Cookney was appointed by Mayor Louis Clapes as Corporation Counsel for Stamford. He joined the Mayors cabinet, which was non partisan and strong believers that the City should be run as a major business for the benefit of the residents.
The law department was reorganized with each attorney assigned to a specialty. Attendance at legal seminars was encouraged. Civil service tests for legal secretaries were instituted. The law library was expanded. The first word processing computer for the City was acquired by attorney Cookney. Legal rulings were issued for all written questions from department heads. Real estate tax appeals by corporate real estate developers were strongly resisted. Attorney Cookney always went to court to defend the Mayor or the administration.
Attorney Cookney was particularly proud of a comprehensive Municipal Code of Ethics that he wrote and obtained Board of Representative approval. Although he had also included financial disclosures for department heads and appointed board and commissions, the rest of the Code of Ethics was adopted almost intact. It established a Board of Ethics that continues to serve today. The Code has only been amended in recent years, resulting from specific ethical issues.
While very busy, Mr. Cookney was persuaded by his youngest son to coach and manage the Stamford Savings Bank National Little League team. He often came directly from Court to baseball practice. His team won the league title two year running. Not one parent complaint.
He was also member and past president of the North Stamford Exchange Club, member of the Stamford Senior Mens Club and an active member of St. Leos Roman Catholic Church.
The family will receive friends at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Friday March 17, 2006 from 4:00 8:00 PM.
A funeral procession will be leaving the funeral home at 10:00 AM on Saturday March 18, 2006 and proceed to St. Leos RC Church, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Fairfield Memorial Park, Oaklawn Avenue, Stamford.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to The ALS Association (Lou Gehrigs Disease) National Office, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 150, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301-5104. www.cognetta.com
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