Mary J. Cotterill

COL. MARY J. COTTERILL, Ret., age 83, or Bella Vista Dr., Ithaca, NY and formerly of Brooklyn, NY died Sunday, August 26th, 2007 at the Cayuga Medical center at Ithaca, NY. Mary was born March 8th, 1924 at Dryden, NY a daughter of the late Glenn and Hazel Nickerson Cotterill. Mary was graduated from Dryden High School in 1941 and worked at Ithaca Gun and Bendix Aviation before enlisting in the WAC Medical Corps. After the war she was graduated from Ithaca College in 1951 with a degree in Physical Therapy. At that time she began a distinguished career with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY where she rose through the ranks to become Chief of Physical Therapy. She also attained the rank of Colonel in the Army Reserve Medical Specialist Corps. Mary also became the first woman to be County Commander of the American Legion in Kings County, NY where she was in charge of overseeing 90 legion posts. She retired and eventually returned to Ithaca, NY to live near family and her alma mater, Ithaca College.

Survivors include her sisters, Dorothy Poole of Ithaca and Carolyn Zhe of California and several nieces, nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Leslie V. Cotterill, Arland Cotterill and Alvin Cotterill; a sister, Ruth Pearson.

Graveside services will be held at 1 PM, Tuesday, Sept. 4th, 2007 at the Willow Glen Cemetery, Dryden with Rev. Dale Austin officiating. Members of the Dryden Veterans Memorial Home Ritual Team will provide Military Honors at the grave. There are no calling hours. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Perkins Funeral Home, 55 West Main St., Dryden, NY. Those wishing to remember Mary are asked to consider a memorial to the Leonard T. Spaulding Post 1134, American Legion, 2272 Dryden Road, Dryden, NY 13053. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com