Shrewsbury – Ilene (Baskind) Cosmas, of The Community at Orchard Meadows in Shrewsbury, formerly of Wayland, lost her three-year valiant battle with cancer Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. She was 79.
She was born May 11, 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio, a daughter of the late John “Jack” and Lillian (Sudugor) Baskind. After graduating Shaker Heights High School, she attended Ohio University School of Journalism. During her second year at OU, an opportunity presented itself in the Cleveland office of The Wall Street Journal. She got the job and never looked back.
During her second year, the Journal sent her to New York for a week to learn all phases of putting a newspaper to bed. Fate stepped in the second day in New York….the bosses gave her a “free afternoon.” She went to the Statue of Liberty, took the elevator to the neck, and then walked up a suspended circular staircase 12 flights to the crown. However, going down was too much for her and soon everyone was making their way down the circular staircase. Eventually they called the last boat. She could not move. John came to her rescue! He carried her coat, high heels, camera and handbag. And, they have been together ever since.
They married and moved to San Francisco. Ilene continued at The Wall Street Journal and she was in the right place at the right time when The New York Times opened an office in San Francisco. She became a stringer and was so happy to have a job with The New York Times. As much as she enjoyed those years, when they saved $10,000 to do the “Grand Tour” of Europe, she did not hesitate to hand in her resignation the same day they purchased our tickets.
During 58 years of marriage, they traveled through much of Europe and Greece, as well as 41 of the 50 United States. John became an American citizen, Ilene became a Greek woman. She learned Greek cooking and culture and learned to speak Greek.
She was active at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Weston and the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society and was the founder of the 50 Something & Senior Guild. It was an immediate success and people who had never been on a bus trip immediately signed on regardless of what the trip entailed: baseball and hockey games, Broadway plays, community theaters, new restaurants, museums, symphonies and Camp Night each year in July. People got involved, renewed past acquaintances, met new friends and developed long lasting friendships. Ilene headed the group for 9 long years. They FSC became a model for other churches for such social clubs. Ilene was invited to speak to people who were involved in their establishment.
John and Ilene have many wonderful memories of their life together; however, this is one journey Ilene will be taking by herself. Ilene knows she will be waiting for her beloved husband John.
In addition to her husband, John, she leaves her daughter, Dina Ellen Scott and her husband Robert, and her granddaughter, Ariana Lee Scott, all of Mechanicsville, Va.; her sister, Marilyn Gilbert of Beachwood, Ohio and her late husband Leonard; her sister-in-law, Zoe Korkovilli and her late husband Stelio, and Peter and Zoe Kosmas, Christina Kosmas and her daughter Toula, and Vasilios Kosmas, all of Athens, Greece, and the late Panayoti Kosmas and his late wife Koula. She is also survived six nieces and four nephews, including George Cosmas and his wife Cheryl of Hudson, several nieces and nephews in America and Greece, and her cousin who was like a sister to her, Sherry Bailin. Ilene was preceded in death by her parents and many aunts and uncles.
Family and friends will honor and remember Ilene’s life by gathering for a calling hour Wednesday, Sept. 2, from10-11 a.m., at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown St., Weston, followed by her funeral service at 11 a.m. The Rev. Nicholas Krommydas and Rev. Dean Paleologos will officiate. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Wayland.
Memorials in Ilene’s name may be made to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown St., Weston, MA 02493.
