Clyde C. Cook, 75, Lay Director of the Arlington Diocesan Cursillo Movement for seventeen years, and an active member of St. Mary's Church, Alexandria, died February 11, 1999. He suffered from Parkinson's disease. Clyde and his wife of 53 years, Etta, lived in recent years at Woodbine Rehabilitation and HealthCare Center. A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated at St. Mary's by Fathers Stanley Krempa, pastor, Tuck Grinnell, pastor at St. Anthony's in Falls Church and Joseph McCloskey, SJ of Washington, D.C.

Born in Harrisonburg, IL, Clyde served in the Department of Veterans Affairs in Chicago and Washington, retiring from a position now entitled, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions and Material Management.

The Cursillo Movement in Virginia was his special apostolate. This Catholic renewal effort held its first "Short Course in Christianity" retreat for men in April, 1966, in Aquia, VA. With Clyde's efforts, the second came in May, 1968, and the first for women a year later. As the movement grew, as many as ten weekends were held yearly in VA at places such as the Benedictine Retreat House, Bristow, Missionhurst, Arlington, and Bethany, Huntly. Each weekend produced 30 more lay people ready to actively work in the church. They drew inspiration and enthusiasm from participating in weekly small sharings called group reunions.

When Bishop Thomas Welsh began his work as our first bishop, he called a meeting of the leaders in Northern Virginia. Clyde represented Cursillo. After many others had described their groups and tasks, the Bishop called on Clyde to learn about Cursillo, a movement not familiar to him. Clyde said that Cursillo prepared leaders and asked all in the room who had made a Cursillo to stand. Only Bishop Welsh remained seated. In succeeding years, the Bishop met annually with the Cursillo Community for Mass, a message, and a social evening.

Clyde guided the local group as it expanded. When the Arlington Diocese was created, he responded to the call to bring Cursillo to Southern Virginia, to Texas in 1976, and to assist non-Catholic groups to start their own programs.

Clyde had a long history of volunteer work at St. Mary's. He was the first Lay Director of Religious Education there. He also organized an adult education series that took place for several years at Bishop Ireton High School. He was among the first lectors and he and Etta, always a partner, were among the first Eucharistic Ministers. He was laid to rest in the parish cemetery.

A true lay person in the church, Clyde, a convert, served on the Steering Committee of the Washington Archdiocesan Youth Encounter Program, and for many years, the Northern VA Catholic Charities Board. When Northern Virginia was part of the Richmond Diocese, he was a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and co-chaired the Diocesan Council of the Laity Study Committee.

Clyde is survived by his wife and a sister. May he rest in the peace of the Kingdom!!