[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF TO HARLEM'S OLDEST ROMEO, CLYDE E. COOK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2014

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 26, 2014, the Village of 
Harlem and the residents of the HDFC Houses at 206 West 121st Street 
came together to celebrate the life of Clyde E. Cook who passed away 
peacefully on April 15, 2014. It was a fitting tribute to a man who 
helped organize and redeveloped 206 West 121st Street Apartment 
Building into New York City's Housing Development Fund Corporation 
(HDFC) program, giving individual tenants ownership shares of their 
apartments, where Clyde served as president and building manager. Clyde 
and his beloved wife Clarissa were dear friends, allies and active 
members of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Democratic Club, the home 
club of my political family.
  Clyde Cook's obituary in the New York Amsterdam News reads as 
follows:

       ``Harlem's oldest Romeo'' Clyde E. Cook was a proud member 
     of the Harlem Village, and because of his inspiration and 
     positive outlook, he was an optimistic figure in the 
     community. His smile and kindness moved everyone that knew 
     him; he was a strong pillar and role model.
       Cook took great pride and pleasure in helping others. He 
     loved writing poetry and going to the movies. His 6-foot-2-
     inch slender frame, rich baritone voice and cool demeanor led 
     to his being called ``Harlem's oldest Romeo.'' He was a 
     father figure and dear friend to many. His direct involvement 
     as a Harlem community advocate enhanced and enriched the 
     neighborhood.
       He was born in Selma, Ala., on Aug. 2, 1936, to the late 
     Ira and Lottie Cook. Clyde was the youngest of four children. 
     At an early age, his family relocated to Harlem and Clyde 
     received his education in the New York City public school 
     system, graduating from Clinton High School in the Bronx. 
     During his adult years, Clyde fell in love and married 
     Clarissa Harrison and resided in Harlem until she preceded 
     him in death in 2006.
       Clyde joined the auxiliary police during the nineteen 
     seventies and graduated with honors. He held many managerial 
     positions during his professional career starting at Harlem 
     Hospital, the City Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street, the 
     Board of Elections and ending as president and building 
     manager of his HDFC building, located at 206 West 121st 
     Street, around the corner from Adam Clayton Powell Jr. 
     Boulevard and a short distance from the Mecca of Harlem's 
     African Square on 125th Street that he loved so dearly. Clyde 
     performed outstanding and exemplary service, helping others 
     attain affordable housing.
       Clyde Cook's leadership abilities led him to become an 
     active community advocate. He joined the 28th Precinct 
     Auxiliary Police in an effort to bring crime down and clean 
     up the neighborhood during Harlem's darkest drug infested 
     days. Being such a lover of community, Clyde became the 
     president of the Golden Awards Committee, where under his 
     leadership he honored many of Harlem's elite professionals 
     for exceptional and devoted acts of service within the 
     community. Our beloved Clyde passed away quietly with dignity 
     and grace after a brief on April 15.

  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my esteem colleagues to join me in 
honoring Harlem's oldest Romeo and community advocate, Mr. Clyde E. 
Cook.

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