There will be a private service for the family of Bud Cole during the week of July 23 and a public Celebration of Life Service at 4 p.m. July 31, Blue Mountain Resort-Summit Lodge, 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton, Pa. 18071.

Bud Cole received a first-place 2017 Keystone state professional journalism award for his “Bud’s View” columns for the Press newspapers. He previously received two second-place Keystone awards for “Bud’s View.”

With the passing of Bud Cole, tributes from colleagues began pouring in. Here are remembrances received in time for the Focus section newspaper deadline.

Scott Masenheimer, Times-News, Inc., Publisher:

“The Press Weekly newspaper family lost a valuable, award-winning contributor to our Focus section with the passing of Bud Cole.

“His nature columns educated and inspired our readers on just about anything there is to experience in the outdoors. He did it in an interesting and personal style that made you feel you were by his side enjoying his many adventures with him. It could be shad fishing on the Delaware, one of Bud’s favorite pastimes, or simply walking his property with his wife Bev as he described the trees, the flowers, or the many birds and other wildlife that he knew so well with his faithful dog Blue by their side.

“Even as he fought so valiantly the many medical issues he had to deal with over the last several years, he kept his sense of humor and his desire to write. When he felt well enough he continued to contribute his column to the pages of The Press weekly newspapers. Bud’s last column appears today.

“We would like to express our condolences from our family to Bud’s family and to his many friends in whose loss we share.”

Fraternity brother

“Back in the summer of 1965, Bud and Sigma Pi brothers from East Stroudsburg University stayed at my parents place in Ocean City, N.J., for a week. Later that summer in Pennsylvania, we enjoyed fun nights at Marshall’s Creek “jungle bar.” Bud and my Dad hit it off with their love of fishing and over the years we all would occasionally go fishing.

“In 1984, Bud steered me to purchase a 1984 VW camper, which I still have. We had a memorable trip through New England into Quebec City, Canada, which was celebrating it’s 350-year anniversary. We took in a Judy Collins’ concert.

“Bud’s knowledge of nature was vast and we shared many wildlife articles from different parts of the country. Our conversations ranged from the environment, to sports, to current politics with no loss for words. I will always cherish those conversations, the brotherhood, and Buddy Cole, his wit, humor, knowledge, jokes, photography, friendship, and booming voice.”

-Your brother for life,

George Funk, Sigma Pi Fraternity Brother

“Buddisms”

“We met while skiing in 1989. Bud ... His wit and humor instantly sucked me in ... I had a new friend ... a friend for life. Little did I know what was in store in the years to follow. ‘Buddisms,’ as we called them, ‘You know, April ... I’m single and if you were single ... well ... we’d both be single!’ Or when a group of us were all silently taking in the almost surreal view at the Delaware Water Gap, Bud broke the silence in a quiet, wistful voice ... ‘It all looks ... so real ...’ That was Bud.

“He was a practical joker (that sometimes backfired!) and a great joke-teller. He made people laugh. He found humor in almost every situation. That was Bud.

“But there was more to Bud ... much more. He had a tender heart, and when a situation warranted compassion, warmth and friendship, he could always be counted on to deliver. He was Bev’s rock when she went through a life-threatening illness several years ago. That was Bud ...

“To say there’s a plethora of family and friends out there who will sorely miss him is just simply an understatement.”

-April Umlauf

Watershed leadership

“I am sure many of you will always remember Bud for his passion for enjoying life outdoors, and for generously sharing that passion with others. I have always regarded him as our mentor, and his guidance and leadership to the Bertsch, Hokendauqua, Catasauqua Watershed Association is a legacy that will continue to move us forward for many years yet to come. His generosity sharing nature with others as exhibited by The Three B’s Mobile Nature Center wildlife display at one of our watershed events, and his ability to overcome difficulty and adapt is exhibited by the beautiful buck he harvested left-handed, because his right shoulder was recovering from surgery.

“While I am deeply saddened by the loss of such a great friend, I find consolation knowing that the pain he has endured during the past two years is finally over. He is at peace now in a place where the cool waters shimmer with sunlight, the plants glisten with morning dew, the sounds of bird song fill the air, and a fluffy puppy is nuzzling his hand for attention.”

-With deepest affection, Bob Hosking

“Legacy of Love”

“The passing of Bud Cole leaves his wife, his dog Blue, fellow Sigma Pi fraternity brothers, friends, teaching colleagues, former students, and his readership with so many great memories of a unpretentious man who loved life, the environment, teaching, and writing. To know Bud Cole and to see his smile and heart reach out to us all is his legacy of love.

“His amazing fight to wake up from a coma of nine months and return home to a productive life is a story we can share with so many others who face similar life challenges. For me, when he called to tell me that he received the Helen G Hunt Award from East Stroudsburg State University in 2016 and he said, ‘What am I going to do?’ I said, ‘You will walk up on that stage and look at the audience of your friends and alumni and realize how much you are loved and have contributed.’ We were all blessed to know this great man.”

- Sandy L. Burkart

John P. Petronis