BOULDER -- This month, the CU family lost a pair of loyal football lettermen, as Ray Cone (’82) and Nick Counter (‘59) passed away.
Cone died at the age of 48 on November 7 near his home in Altamonte Springs, Fla., where the family had moved two years ago from Colorado; he is survived by his wife, Trish, and five children, Daniel, Andrew, Patrick, Caroline and Stephen.
******* A memorial service for Ray is set this Wednesday, November 25, with one of the featured speakers to be former head coach Bill McCartney, who took over the CU program Ray’s senior year. It will take place at the Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 East Grace Boulevard in Highlands Ranch, starting at 9:30 a.m.; the service is expected to last 90 minutes. *******
He lettered three times for the Buffaloes, leading the team in tackles as a senior with 183—a single-season record that still stands. That number, which included 102 solo, led the Big 8 Conference and was one of the top figures in the nation (the NCAA didn’t track tackles back then). He originally was a linebacker, moved to offensive guard where he first lettered, and then returned to his preferred position for his senior year. He recorded double digit tackles in all but one game in 1982, including 20 or more on three occasions. He was CU’s Most Valuable Player and Outstanding Defensive Player for that season.
A local service was held in Florida on November 11; his lettermen’s jacket was on display and the casket was emblazed with Buffalo decals.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up for the Cone children at New Traditions Bank (145 South Orlando Avenue, Suite 1, Maitland, FL 32751). Checks should be made payable to Cone Family Fund.
His wife penned the following E-mail she wanted to share:
“Our family has been through such an unimaginable, often surreal, time these last ten days. We are still in shock and disbelief, but we have been lifted up in prayer by so many of you, and God has and is sustaining us daily. The kids and I returned to school, and the tasks of the day made it more bearable, at times. We were able to get up to the beach for a night, a week after Ray's death, which was mostly peaceful, but every tick of the clock meant more reflection. We have actually had to celebrate two of our sons’ birthdays during this time, Patrick's 17th and Stephen's 10th. Although the time in Orlando has been relatively short, a little over two years, we are surrounded by loving and supportive families who have come to our side throughout this time.
“Now, we are planning to reunite with you all in Denver. Anyone who would like to attend the service is welcome. It will be beautiful. We are expecting a large crowd, and so the time to see each of you would be limited. Therefore, we are also planning an open house on Tuesday night (Nov. 24), at the home of Ray's childhood friend, Mark Tomko. We hope you can come then. Please let any of our neighbors, friends, and church family know about this gathering. The outpouring of cards and emails has been amazing, because Ray was amazing, and he has left some amazing children who now need you all more than ever. Thank you for your love – Trish.”
Ray’s sister, Berni, put together the following website: http://www.rayconememorial.com.
Counter was 69; he passed on November 6 after a long illness and brief hospitalization. He scored one of the first important two-point conversions in CU history, rallying CU to a 21-20 win over Missouri in 1959, a year after it made it was into the rule book. A fullback, he came to CU from Denver East and lettered as a senior in football.
He was a very controversial figure in Hollywood, Nick Counter served as President of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) for 27 years, from its formation in 1982 until his retirement in March of this year. Prior to being named AMPTP President, he served as outside legal counsel for the antecedent Association of Motion Picture & Television Producers for 10 years. As AMPTP President, Counter's primary responsibility was to lead the 80 industry-wide labor negotiations with entertainment industry guilds and unions on behalf of the studios, the broadcast networks, and certain cable networks. In his 27 years as AMPTP President, Counter negotiated more than 300 major guild and union agreements. Warner Bros. chief Barry Meyer, considered the lead mogul behind the AMPTP, called Counter, “a brilliant negotiator who guided this industry through historic change and never lost his desire to be fair to ll involved. We will miss him very much."
to say: "Nick's passing is a profound loss for the entire entertainment community. We will all remember Nick for his passionate leadership, which was always guided by a resolute sense of fair play and an earnest desire that everyone come out a winner. Nick had a particular proficiency for developing consensus among diverse points of view and he used this skill to great advantage in negotiating hundreds of collective bargaining agreements that led to a sustained era of labor peace. Those of us who worked directly with him have lost a valued colleague and a dear personal friend. Our hearts go out to his family."
The MPAA pointed out: "He always treated people with dignity and respect in the tough circumstances of these negotiations. He knew that you could be thoughtful and kind even when the issues were difficult, and for that he was respected."
