Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: News

Don Cockrell, athletic and equipment coordinator for more than 25 years at Brookhaven College, who was loved and depended on by thousands of student athletes, died April 24 in his sleep at the age of 52.

Lynne Levesque, athletic director, said, "There is a long, extended list of thousands of student athletes over the years that have come through our program who were certainly touched by him."

Don Cockrell's wife, Gail, said his dedication to the students and athletes proved his biggest accomplishment, and he always took time to listen when they needed someone to talk to.

Gail Cockrell said she met her husband at Brookhaven while she was working and going to school part time. After she got a job in the Fine Arts Division office she said she got to know him and "things kind of went from there."

Gail and Don Cockrell were married for nearly 21 years.

Cedric Clark, computer science sophomore and co-worker of Don Cockrell for four years, said: "He had love for everybody he saw. If he could help you, he would help you, even if he didn't know you. Don didn't have a hateful bone in his body at all. He was a good person all the way around."

Clark said Don Cockrell never minded helping resolve a situation.

"If there was something we didn't know how to do, we just asked him," he said.

Levesque said: "He was bigger than life, very caring and a warm person who would give you the shirt off his back, whether you were a friend or stranger. He loved the kids here, the students. Especially the student athletes, he kind of took them under his wing. … He was their father figure and he kicked them in the pants when they needed it. He taught them a lot about respect. Not only respecting themselves but individuals … taking care of business and getting that degree."

She said a basketball player from 10 years ago called Gail Cockrell from New Jersey as soon as he heard the news of Don Cockrell's death. She said Don Cockrell, a genuine friend to her, would arrive at the school early and turn on the athletic program office lights. To come in and see the lights off, she said, was very saddening.

"I can't even walk in the gym yet because everything is just him," she said. "I know all my coaches feel that way.

"So, Brookhaven loses another great one. [They are] hard shoes to fill; they are never going to be filled."

Levesque said with a smile that she could tell many of Don Cockrell's fishing stories about the one that got away.

Continued...

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