Barbara Ann Cookson, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend was born on October 7, 1935 in New York City, the daughter of Daniel Patrick Reynolds and Jean Reynolds (Drayer). Barbara and her sisters, Jeanne (Federowicz) and Kathleen (Gillece), were raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, where Barbara attended St Anastasia’s grade school and St Ceclia’s High School. After graduating from high school, Barbara attended Berkley Secretarial School and was employed by the NBC Television Network. While there, she competed in and won the Miss NBC contest in 1956 and appeared on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen. While commuting to work on the ferry, she met and, in 1957, married the love of her life, John “Jack” Robert Cookson, to whom she was married for 54 years until his death in 2011. They settled in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey where they raised their children, John Patrick and Eileen Therese. They began to Summer in Avalon, NJ in the 1960’s and had a Summer home there for over 45 years. After Jack retired, they lived between Avalon and Vero Beach, Florida where they belonged to Wildwood Golf and Country Club in New Jersey and Hawk’s Nest in Florida. Barbara moved to Oak Harbor in Vero Beach in 2015 where she lived happily among her many friends until her death on January 5, 2026.
Barbara was an avid tennis player and golfer throughout her life, enjoying a golfer’s ultimate dream of a hole-in-one in 1995. She was also a talented artist and pianist. She was known most by her friends and family for her beautiful and radiant smile and her vivacious personality.
Barbara is survived by her loving children and three granddaughters, Katherine Therese, Megan Elizabeth and Erin Meredith. She is predeceased in life by her parents, her husband and her sister Kathleen. She also leaves behind her sister Jeanne and many wonderful grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Barbara’s presence brought light into every room, and her memory will forever be a blessing to all who had the privilege of knowing her.