Joe Issa Expresses Condolences on Passing of Scholar and Educator Lady Ivy Cooke

Businessman Joe Issa, a former tourism practitioner in Montego Bay, the home of former Governor General of Jamaica Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke, has expressed condolences at the recent passing of Lady Ivy Cooke. She was 100 years old.

Former Governor General of Jamaica- Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke

Widow of Sir Howard, who died in 2014 at the age of 98 years, Lady Ivy Cooke is said to have passed away at the Andrew’s Memorial Hospital in St Andrew. The union is believed to have produced three children – Justice Howard Cooke Jr, Richard and Audrey. 

“From what I know of Lady Cooke, she was a very bright student and a committed educator, who spent the rest of her life in the classroom teaching,” said Issa, executive chairman of Cool Group of companies, noting, “That’s awesome service to people and country.”

Issa, who continues to give towards the education of underprivileged Jamaican children through his Cool Charities subsidiary, said Lady Ivy Cooke is owed a debt of gratitude for her dedication to teaching.

Both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his predecessor Portia Simpson Miller, who reportedly made the first announcement, have hailed Lady Cooke for her contribution to education in Jamaica.

Joey Issa

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid, who has also paid tribute to Lady Ivy Cooke, said “the former Ivy Tai graduated with honours from Bethlehem Teachers College in the early 1930s and went on to spend 43 years teaching.

“She was also the first person from Jamaica to study child development at the Institute of Education, London University, in the United Kingdom”.

The Education Minister said Lady Cooke and Sir Howard, who was also an Education Minister, “spent their early years as educators in the small community of Bell Castle, Portland, where they earned the respect of students and the wider community alike,” according to newspaper reports.

He said “this was as much for their giftedness as teachers as well as for their humility and community involvement.”

“Lady Cooke lived a life of exemplary service and commitment to the people of Jamaica,” Reid is quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Simpson Miller said, “Prior to being thrust onto the public stage, Lady Cooke had already made a name for herself as an outstanding scholar who later developed into a superb educator, and one who was dedicated not only to the task of enlightening young minds, but also to tending to their welfare.”