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Hulda Kokko, 97
Hyannis - Hulda Kokko, 97, a longtime Hyannis resident, died Monday, May 31, 2999 at the Cape Regency Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Centerville after a long illness.
She was the wife of the late William Kokko and Emil Kari.
Born in Finland, Mrs. Kokko lived in New York City before moving to the Cape 50 years ago, where she lived in Hyannis.
She is survived by a niece, Anna Kara of Superior, Wis.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hyannis Fire and Rescue Squad, 96 High School Road Extension, Hyannis, MA 02601.
Judge Harold E. Magunson, 87
Brewster - Harold E. Magnuson, 87, attorney and former judge, died at his home in Brewster, Tuesday, June 1, 1999.
He was the husband of Hilda (Gilchrist) Magnuson, having married on May 31, 1998. He was married to the late Sally (Benner) Magnuson from 1941 to 1990.
Mr. Magnuson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1934 and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He received a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1938. He served as an assistant attorney general of Massachusetts and assistant district attorney of Middlesex County. He was appointed a special justice of the Massachusetts District Court in 1953 and served until 1978. He was a founder of the Boston law firm of Martin, Magnuson, McCarthy and Kenney and practiced law in Boston and on Cape Cod. He maintained a law office in Yarmouthport until December, 1998.
He was baptized into the First Baptist Church of Arlington in 1927 and was a devoted member of that church until 1971. He had been a member of the Brewster Baptist Church since 1974.
Mr. Magnuson served his community through various civic, political and charitable activities including moderator of the Town of Arlington, moderator of the Arlington First Baptist Church, and later moderator of the Brewster Baptist Church.
During World War II, Mr. Magnuson served in the Navy as gunnery officer on a fleet minesweeper and in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.
Mr. Magnuson enjoyed boating, sailing on Cape Cod Bay and world travel on cruise ships including a honeymoon cruise on the Mediterranean at the age of 86.
He is survived by his wife, Hilda; two daughters, Linda Hutton of Barnstable, and Paula Miller of Osterville and East Dennis; a son, Philip Magnuson of Yarmouthport; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by a brother, Edward Magnuson, of Camden, Maine; and three sisters, Mildred Smith of Portland, Maine, Alice James of Salisbury, North Carolina and Eleanor Larsen of Medway, Massachusetts.
Donations may be made to the Brewster Baptist Church Building fund.
Norton Nickerson, 73
South Dennis - Norton Nickerson, who helped write the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and whose daughter became the director of the Association for the preservation of Cape Cod, died Wednesday, June 2, 1999 while on vacation in Alaska. He was 73.
Once called "Mr. Wetlands Science in Massachusetts," Mr. Nickerson served for nearly 20 years on the Dennis Conservation Commission. He wrote the portion of the state's Wetland Protection Act that defined a wetland, bog, swamp and marsh.
A biology and environmental studies professor at Tufts University, Mr. Nickerson's love of plants translated into both scholarly and political achievements. He amazed fellow biologists with his ability to name plants both in Latin and English.
"If there was an obscure plant no one in the office could identify, there was just one answer: Call Nickerson," said George Macdonald, Dennis natural resource officer.
But knowledge was not enough for the man who graduated in 1945 as valedictorian of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, and was a l0th-generation Cape Codder.
"He used science to do good," McGregor said. "He also taught me advocacy is important. He personally felt that it was a default when scientists just kept to themselves.
Mr. Nickerson served in the U.S. Air Force, then graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in botany. He earned a master's at the University of Texas and a doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis.
He taught at three other universities before beginning his 33-year career at Tufts University in Medford.
But Mr. Nickerson was never far from his South Dennis family homestead, to where he retired permanently in 1996.
From 1964 to 1982 Mr. Nickerson served on the Dennis Conservation Commission. He gave up the post only when the sale of 24 acres of his family land to the town caused some controversy. He rejoined the committee again two years ago, Macdonald said.
Today that land is part of Mr. Nickerson's "living legacy." It's part of the 46-acre Indian Lands that winds along the Bass River.
He had been president of the Massachusetts Association for the Conservation Commissions in the 1970s, and won the state's "Most Valuable Service to Conservation" title in 1973.
He also won a key court case in 1978 when a developer sued the town of Dennis for its ground-breaking wetlands protection bylaw that was more stringent that the state law.
Drafted by Nickerson, the local bylaw has since been copied by 180 towns in Massachusetts.
As a teacher, he inspired many. "He cared about students," his daughter said." He was a real mentor figure for many students around the world."
Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by two sons, William of Enfield, Conn., and Jonathan of Williamsville, N.Y.; and a brother, Carl, of Millis.
Memorial donations may be made to the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod, P.O. Box 236, Orleans, MA 02653, or to the Dennis Open Space Acquisition Fund, P.O. Box 200, Cummaquid, MA, 02637.
Estelle O. Sunderland, 94
Osterville - Estelle Olsson Sunderland, 94, a resident of Osterville, died Friday, June 4, 1999 at her home.
She was the wife of Dr. William A. Sunderland, who died in 1963.
Mrs. Sunderland was raised in Norwich, Conn., and graduated from Norwich Free Academy and Hartford Hospital School of Nursing in 1927.
She served as a nurse in the intensive care unit and the Admissions Office of Danbury Hospital, where she was a life member of the Danbury Hospital Corp.
In 1969, she moved to Osterville, where she built and maintained her home through the 1990s.
Surviving are two sons, William A. Sunderland Jr. of Norwalk, Conn., and John O. Sunderland of Osterville; a granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Danbury Hospital or Cape Cod Hospital.
Justin L. Stewart, 23
Glenwood Springs, Colorado - Justin Leee Stewart, 23, a 20-year Cape resident, died Sunday, June 6, 1999 in an accidental fall while hiking in Glenwood Springs.
Born in Norwood, Mass., he was raised and educated in Falmouth and Barnstable, graduating from Barnstable High School in 1994. He was very active in high school drama, appearing in many Barnstable High productions such as Pippin and Babes in Toyland.
As a guitarist and performer, he entertained his classmates and friends with concerts at Veterans park in Hyannis, Liberty Hall in Marstons Mills and the Woods Hole Community Center.
After high school, he graduated from Marine Corps boot camp and trained as an electrician. He was employed in this trade at the time of his death.
Surviving are his mother, Janyce Mutti of Falmouth; his father, Brian Stewart of West Barnstable; three brothers, Ian Mutti and Rye Mutti, both of Mashpee, and Alex Stewart of West Barnstable; two sisters, Niki Mutti and Carly Mutti, both of Falmouth; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Henry Hitchcock, 92
Henry Hitchcock, 92, a longtime Cotuit summer resident, died Thursday, June 3, 1999 at his home in Tuscon, Ariz., after a brief illness.
Mr. Hitchcock was born in Boston and reared in St. Louis, Mo. He spent all his summers through college on the Cape at his parents' vacation home and part of each summer thereafter until 1952, when he and his wife built their own house on the property. They sold the house in 1980.
Mr. Hitchcock graduated from Yale University and Harvard University School of Business Administration. He was an executive at the old Mississippi Valley Trust Co. when he retired in the early 1960s.
Among the survivors are his wife of 66 years, Eleanor (Hoblitzelle) Hitchcock of Tuscon; his brother Ethan Hitchcock of Oldwick, N.J.; and a sister, Elizabeth Gaillard of New York.
He is predeceased by a sister, Polly Hitchcock of Cotuit, who died in 1990.
Helen K. Atsalis, 80
Hyannis - Helen Konstantinos Atsalis, 80, a resident since 1937, died Friday, June 25, 1999 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis after a brief illness.
She was born, raised and educated in Lynn, and graduated from Bridgewater State College with a degree in teaching.
Following work in the family business, Charlie's Variety Store, which was on Barnstable Road in Hyannis for more than 45 years, she became a medical secretary in the office of Dr. Andrew Grammaticas. She then worked as a fourth-grade teacher at both Cotuit and Centerville elementary schools, retiring in 1975.
She was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Centerville, where she taught Sunday School at the church's original site in Hyannis. She was a charter member of St. Katherine's Philoptochos Society.
She had a lifelong interest in education and literature; was an avid reader with interests in writing and poetry; was an accomplished needle crafter and seamstress; and was fond of animals, supporting programs for animal welfare.
She is survived by a brother, John K. Atsalis of Hyannis; a sister, Sadie K. Bloom of Hyannis; nine nephews; five nieces; 13 grandnephews; and 11 grandnieces.
Memorial donations may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1130 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632; or to the charity of one's choice.
Michael P. Bitsikas, 80
Centerville - Michael P. Bitsikas, 80, a 20-year summer resident and recent year-round resident, died Saturday, June 26, 1999 at his home.
Mr. Bitsikas was born and schooled on the island of Ioarminia in Greece. He was a veteran of the Greek Army, having served in World War II.
He was the husband of Eugenia (Papdopoulos) Bitsikas since 1951.
Mr. Bitsikas and his wife emigrated to America in 1955, residing in Worcester. They then moved to Mobile, Ala., for two years before settling in New Orleans for 40 years, where Mr. Bitsikas worked as a chef for six years. He then opened his own restaurant, which he operated for 21 years.
Mr. Bitsikas was an active member of the Greek community while in New Orleans. He was involved with the annual Greek festival for 25 years. As a parishioner of Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans, he sang in the choir. In 1985, he retired and traveled extensively with his wife through Europe and the United States.
His hobbies included fishing, crabbing and cooking. He summered on Cape Cod for the past 20 years, and lived year-round in Centerville since last year.
Besides his wife, he is survived by four daughters, Frances B. Haidas of Osterville, Agnes B. Chatelain of West Dennis, Helen B. Rowell of Centerville and Alexandra M. Bitsikas of Annapolis, Md.; two sisters, Irene B. Tsiaras of Worcester and Aglaia B. Liaskos of Greece; five grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.
Burial was in Beechwood Cemetery, Centerville.
Memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1200 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124 or to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1130 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632.
Charles K. Butler, 86
Hyannis - Charles Kingston Butler, 86, a longtime Cape resident, died Sunday, June 27, 1999 at home, after a long illness.
He was the husband of Eleanor Butler.
Mr. Butler was born, raised and educated in Boston. He worked in the Navy yards in Charlestown and Quincy. He then served in the Pacific during World War II, where he achieved the rank of chief petty officer.
He was a master plumber by trade who taught at Fitchburg State College, where he had earned his teaching credentials. Mr. Butler also taught for a number of years at the Boston Trade School. He was employed by the City of Boston as a plumbing inspector, a post from which he retired in the early 1970s. He then moved to Cape Cod.
Mr. Butler was the past post commander of the Roslindale VFW. He was also a scout master for the Boy Scouts of America; a member of the Bass River Rod and Gun Club in Yarmouth; and a member of the Cape Cod Social Club.
He had many hobbies, but especially loved painting.
Besides his wife, he is survived by four sons, Charles K. Butler Jr. of Medfield, Kevin R. Butler of Scituate, Thomas J. Butler of Allendale, N.J., and David Butler of Milton; a daughter, Mary E. Butler of Chatham; a sister, Doris Murphy of Readville; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was also the father of the late Christopher P. Butler.
Burial was at Mosswood Cemetery, Cotuit.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Cape Cod, 923 Route 6A,Yarmouthport, MA 02675.
