LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Charlotte Smallwood-Cook,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte Smallwood-Cook of Batavia, New York died on Satur-
day, January 26, 2013, at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte Licht was born in Union Springs, New York, on Cayu-
ga Lake, on January 24, 1923; her father was a doctor, her mother a
nurse; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte Smallwood-Cook graduated from Cornell, where she
met her first husband; when he went to work in New York City, she went
to Columbia Law School, after which the couple moved to Warsaw, New
York; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte Smallwood-Cook distinguished herself in her profes-
sion and by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of her community; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte Smallwood, as she was then known, was 26 in Novem-
ber 1949 when, running as a Republican in a conservative region, she won
a landslide victory, earning a three-year term as district attorney in
rural Wyoming County, southeast of Buffalo; and
WHEREAS, In this role, it is believed that Charlotte Smallwood-Cook
became the first woman elected as a district attorney in New York State;
and
WHEREAS, During her tenure, Charlotte Smallwood-Cook successfully
prosecuted the county's first capital murder case in 40 years and argued
the case before the Court of Appeals, which affirmed the verdict; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte Smallwood-Cook's husband and law partner, Edward
Smallwood, died in 1952; she did not run for re-election but returned to
private practice; and
WHEREAS, She later married Frederick S. Cook, who died in 1987; in
addition to her daughter, who is known as Suki, she is survived by a
son, Edward C. Smallwood; five grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and
numerous stepchildren, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren;
and
WHEREAS, Charlotte Smallwood-Cook's commitment to excellence, and her
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, includ-
ing charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Charlotte Smallwood-Cook leaves behind a legacy which will
long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Charlotte Smallwood-Cook, distinguished citizen and
devoted member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Charlotte Smallwood-Cook.