OREGON S GAY/LE S BIAN/B l/TRAN S NEWSMAGAZINE
MARCH S 2010
5 M
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» DANNY LEE COOK. 1939-2010
“C h e c k in g up on things?
Danny Lee Cook, aka Cherresse, E m ­
the elderly even as a child. Around 2000, he
press 1 o f the IS C E E and Empress 18 o f all
returned to Eugene to care for his mother
I periodically check Just Out , both online and in print, to see if
Alaska, died January 7,2010.
until her passing, and was a volunteer for the
there is any notice o f Casey’s closing. W hy do I do this? I do it
Danny is survived by his son Patrick, his
Lane County Senior Companion Program.
because thanks to a default judgment ([owner] Karl Wilgus never
brother Michael and wife Judy Flynn and
In 2004 he joined the National Campaign
showed up) in my favor over unpaid wages at Casey’s, I have yet to
family, and his sister-in-law Darrellene Cook
for Tolerance co-founded by Rosa Parks and
see a dime. I f the bar closes I will at least get some money from a
and family. He is preceded in death by his
is listed on the “Wall o f Tolerance.”
state B O L I (note this is the state’s money and not his) fund. Karl’s
parents, and brothers Steven and David.
T o the E ditor :
Danny worked closely with many non­
“inability” to pay the judgment like a responsible person would be
Born in Seattle, Washington, Danny
profits. He and his mother were charter
reflected in the shuttering o f the bar’s doors. However, since that
joined the army after graduation, receiving
members o f the Lane County P FL A G ,
judgment, he has closed, opened, and closed The Eagle. This takes
an honorable discharge as P F C . W hile in
and he continued his involvement with the
money. Additionally, his shifts demonstrate that he works and the
Eugene in the early ’70s Danny joined with
IS C E E , which in its 36 years o f service has
continual operation o f the bar shows that he has money somewhere.
friends to found the Imperial Sovereign
contributed over $100,000 to local charities.
I ’m not sure how a management change at Casey’s indicates
Court o f the Emerald Empire (IS C E E ). He
Danny mentored many to continue doing
a newsworthy article [Vol. 27, No. 6, Feb. 5, p. 9, “N W News in
became the first elected Empress, Cherresse.
good deeds in our communities, lending
B rief”]. As a veteran o f the service industry, I ’ve seen a lot o f change,
In the mid-’80s, Danny moved to Anchor­
those in need a helping hand.
but not in the local papers. Your continued praise and support o f
age, Alaska, where he worked as a bartender
A, Celebration o f Life was held January
Karl despite his lack o f ability to pay employees or ignoring the event
for 10 years. He continued with the Court
16 at the Campbell Senior Center, 155 High
that occurred during Pride betrays any integrity that your paper has
System and became the 18th elected E m ­
St., Eugene. In lieu o f flowers please send
toward the gay community.
press o f all Alaska, where he met best friends
a donation to the IS C E E , P.O. Box 3243,
M e? I ’ll still keep checking to see when the bar closes so I can
Tom Creigo and Bernie Grajales.
Eugene, O R , 97403, to benefit The Lane
get some o f the $3,000 he owes me, but Just Out isn’t even worthy
Danny spent his life connecting with people, especially
seniors. His brother Mike remembers him getting to know
REMEMBER
TO BREATHE
County Senior Companion Program. Please sign the guest
book at registerguard.com/legacy.
M att S tefanik , Portland
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