Michael Clinton Cogswell

2/5/25

Michael Clinton Cogswell was born in Elmira, New York on December 18, 1935 to Michael Cogswell and Victoria (Knott) Cogswell. The eldest of five sons, Mike through grit, a stint in the Army and the GI Bill attended Le Moyne College which he credited with challenging him academically and providing him the encouragement to pursue a law degree. While at Le Moyne he met Dorothy Moore. In 1962 they married at St. Therese Church and were together for 63 years. Mike passed peacefully in his home on the morning of February 5, 2025 with Dorothy by his side.  

    Mike graduated from Syracuse University College of Law and subsequently worked as a prosecutor at the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office among colleagues who became life-long friends including his dear brother-in-law, John M. Shannon. Mike practiced law in Elbridge, New York while also doing municipal work for the Towns of Marcellus, Skaneateles and Elbridge. He later worked in the NYS Attorney General’s office.   

    With their three children, Mike and Dorothy first settled in Marcellus, and then Skaneateles, communities they loved. His keen intelligence, warmth and guidance was generously shared with his family, his clients, and many in need. That generosity and support was returned to he and his family tenfold in 1988 when their son Michael, while a junior at the University of Notre Dame, was tragically killed.

     Mike found strength in his faith, works from theologian Hans Kung always nearby. He was inspired by Tchaikovsky's violin concerto in D major, a good breakfast sandwich, Notre Dame football and laughing with his daughters, sons in law and grandchildren during trips to Provence, Rome, Paris, Killarney, Madrid and Sanibel Island. One of his great joys was a round of golf with his brothers or close friends. Winning $5 or a cappuccino from them was, as he often said, “the nuts.”  

    Mike was predeceased by son, Michael, his parents and his brothers: Thomas, John and Edward Cogswell. He is survived by his wife and daughters, Kate Cogswell (Walter Benson) and Amy (John) Carolan. He will be deeply missed by his seven grandchildren, Mary, Michael (Laura Garcia), Magdalene and Matthew Benson and Jack, Peter and Katherine Carolan. He is also survived by his beloved brother, Clinton Cogswell and sisters-in-law, Carol Shannon, Carol Cushing, Mary Moore along with many loving nieces and nephews.  

    There is a Mass for Mike on Tuesday, February 11th at St. Mary's of the Lake Roman Catholic Church on Jordan Street, Skaneateles at 10am. 

    We welcome all who wish to stop by and celebrate Mike’s life from 11am-2pm at a reception at the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles. There will be a hearty lunch, hot coffee, many beautiful pictures, good cheer and Sinatra playing in the background. 

    In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael C. Cogswell Scholarship Fund at Marcellus Central Schools or a gift in his memory to Le Moyne College, Advancement Office, P.O. Box 527 Syracuse, New York 13214 or lemoyne.edu/give.  

To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.