Anne Ryan Cooke

Anne Elizabeth Ryan Cooke passed from this world early on Saturday morning, November 23, 2013; she had been resting at her home in Williamsburg, VA since August. Anne, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Emblem Health, a New York based Health Insurance Company, had been living and working in NYC for a little over a year. After a successful career with AT&T, she retired in 1998 to pursue other interests, including a short period with Michigan Consolidate Gas and Gen Three partners in Boston. Anne then came to the Healthcare industry with leadership positions at Wellpoint, where she was responsible for the rollout of their Medicare Part D product, then DaVita Inc., with their Home Healthcare Division and finally with Emblem Health where she was responsible for Operations and IT. Anne remained in NYC during Hurricane Sandy to help keep Emblem’s IT systems operational, as power was lost and backups restored.

Anne grew up in the suburbs of Milwaukee, was a nationally ranked swimmer in high school, and then attended St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, graduating in 1980 with honors and member of Phi Beta Kappa. She felt her greatest work satisfaction came in the Health Industry. A colleague who worked with her at Emblem can best describe her in the quote below:

“Anne was inspirational, honest, and genuine. In speaking with many other people about Anne, they each felt important and full of purpose after meeting her and hearing her vigor for life and dedication to transforming our organization. And she did just that; transformed it. She held others accountable and required nothing but the best from each of us. I am a better person and stronger leader because of her. God bless.”

She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Bruce Cooke and daughter, Victoria Cooke, Williamsburg, VA and sisters, Mary Nell Ryan, Milwaukee, WI, and Jeanne Ryan, Duluth, MN.

The family will receive local friends and neighbors on Tuesday evening, November 26th from 4-7pm, at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23188. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later time.

The family is requesting in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hospice House of Williamsburg, 4445 Powhatan Pkwy, Williamsburg, VA 23188 in honor of Anne Cooke. Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsencares.com.