John Russell Cole Of Water Mill Dies April 3

John Russell Cole of Water Mill died on April 3. He was 70.

Mr. Cole was born on April 13, 1950 in Southampton to Clayton Murphy Cole and Ange (Cilli) Cole.

He was a Southampton High School graduate, where he loved to run track.

He met his wife Joyce (Vinje) Cole from East Hampton in the spring of 1968. They were married in December 1970, recently celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They resided in Water Mill since 1972.

Mr. Cole was a New York State certified arborist and was employed by the Bartlett Tree Experts in Southampton since the early 1980s, where he held the position of office manager/sales representative.

He loved his job working with trees, which is something he began doing at 18 years old, his family said. He was a member of the Professional Certified Applicators of Long Island for many years.

Mr. Cole was a very devoted man of faith at the Hamptons Christian Fellowship Church on Noyac Road in Sag Harbor since 2007, according to his family. He held the position as an elder in the church, and was also on the board of directors. He often donated his time by helping on the grounds, as well as participating in the New Life Disaster Relief Organization in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Mr. Cole was a member in good standing in the Southampton Fire Department for 13 years with the Southampton Hose company.

He cherished the time he spent with his family, his family said, especially his children and grandchildren.

Mr. Cole was predeceased by his father Clayton Murphy Cole.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his son Brennen of Water Mill; daughter Samantha of Danbury, Connecticut, and her three children, Maximus, Bella and Arianna Sacchetti; his son Jason and his wife Joey of East Quogue, and their three children, Joelle, Jasey and Jessie Cole; his mother Ange Cole of Southampton; his siblings, Robert Cole and his wife Marjorie of Arizona; Dennis Cole and his wife Kathleen of Manorville; Debbie Cole and her husband Jose DeJesus of Walden, New York; Michael Cole of Southampton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on April 6, under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton, with Pastor Doug Kinney of Hamptons Christian fellowship officiating. Interment followed on April 7 at Southampton Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Hamptons Christian Fellowship, 2837 Noyac Rd., Sag Harbor, NY 11963.