Donald S. Hooks

VOORHEESVILLE – Donald S. Hooks, 67, passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 with his loving family by his side at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC after a year long battle with brain cancer. Donald was the son of Kenneth and Bertha Hooks, born and raised in Oneonta NY. He was married to his wife Betty in 1964 and remained her loving husband for 46 years. He retired in 2004 after having worked at Unisys Corporation and its predecessor companies for over 35 years managing customer service operations. Prior to his career in the computer industry, Donald served in the U.S. Navy submarine service for over 7 years as a nuclear reactor technician aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602), a George Washington-class fleet ballistic missile submarine, and subsequently earned his B.S. degree in Business Administration at S.U.N.Y. at Albany.

Don was an active volunteer in Boy Scouts of America Troop 73 and an active member of the Voorheesville American Legion Post 1493, where he served as its commander from 1985 to 1986. Don had a brilliant intellect, an infectious sense of humor and warm generosity. He would devour books and literature at a pace that was hard to believe. He enjoyed being outdoors all of his life, craving the ocean and beaches, spending his retired years maintaining his son's forest acreage, and playing golf with his buddies. He loved making up stories for his grandsons and providing laughter for everyone around him through his antics. He loved and appreciated his family and friends.

Donald is survived by his loving wife Betty (Oliver) Hooks of Voorheesville, daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Scott McLean of Cary, NC and son and daughter-in-law, James and Laurie Hooks of Pittsfield, MA. He was the loving grandfather of Brenden, Ian and Evan McLean. Donald is also survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Mrs. Brian (Marilyn) Sabean of Ft. Myers, FL and two brothers, Wayne Hooks of Escondido, CA and Richard Hooks of Oneonta, NY. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

The funeral service for Don will be held Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. at New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie NY (Rt. 155-south of Central Ave.). Calling hours will be held on Monday January 18th 2010 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Interment will be at Memory's Garden in Colonie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Don's name may be made to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3624, Durham NC 27710, Attn: Ellen Stainback.