Harness racing loses yet another treasure

Just days ago, our harness racing sport lost a treasure.

Her name was Joan Fedun in real life but, in our grand sport, she was known as “Cookie.”

Yes, she was a devoted sister, wife, mother, grandmother and, to top it off, a great grandmother.

She was also the GRAND mother to hundreds of horsemen and women helping the drivers and trainers with their needs on racing nights from everything to keeping them looking perfect in post parades to being a wonderful and trusted confident as so many leaned on her shoulder and fragile frame with advice to get through life.

Hall of Fame horseman Wally Hennessey said, “Cookie took so much pride in her work, and she was one of the kindest and most generous persons I have ever had the privilege of meeting in my lifetime. She, truly, made everyone who knew her a better person.”

Florida Hall of Fame trainer Mike Deters echoed Hennessey’s comments adding, “I loved Cookie…but then, everyone loved Cookie. She was an awesome lady, and her continuous smile was contagious and radiated through wherever she was. We have all lost a treasured friend.”

Mickey McNichol, also a Florida Hall of Fame horseman, chimed in saying, “You’d be hard pressed to find another person as wonderful and caring as Cookie. She was a gift to all who knew her…just a gem.”

Born in Brooklyn on March 5, 1929, harness racing wasn’t the only sports venue touched by Joan Fedun’s warmth.

Early in her career, she worked at the fabled St. George Hotel when the Brooklyn Dodgers used that venue as their resident hotel.

Cookie took care of the Dodgers in need, as well, and gained a reputation as the “go to” person if they needed some help.

“They were the ‘real’ Dodgers,” she once lamented, “with guys like Pee Wee Reese, Eddie Stanky, Ralph Branca and, of course, Jackie Robinson and ironically, “Cookie” Lavagetto,” long before the name “Cookie” was bestowed on her.

Joan Fedun eventually became a school administrator in upstate New York for Monticello Public Schools, becoming a positive influence on all children in her path.

After the passing of her husband, Bernard, she moved to South Florida and soon was at Pompano Park, plying her positive role to horsemen and women tending to their needs in the hustle-bustle atmosphere of the driver’s room and paddock.

She described her marriage to Bernard as a dream come true and often talked to the drivers and trainers about what a wonderful gentleman he was. “Everyone should be as lucky as I,” she said.

Florida Legislator Dan Daley, a grandson of Joan, recalled how she got the name “Cookie” when a very young granddaughter Jamie, “probably about two-years-old at the time,” when prodded to speak her name, said “cookie” instead, with that name sticking thereafter as great-grandma always had a cookie for her as a reward.

To say that “Cookie” was a courageous lady would be an understatement.

She conquered cancer years ago and, in 2004, in her mid-70’s, joined the U.S. Airfare Auxiliary, Civil Sir Patrol, with grandson Dan and served as Leadership Officer and Liaison to the Color Guard of the Coral Springs Cadet Squadron, earning the rank of First Lieutenant.

She had a significant impact on the lives of the young for generations.

Cookie is survived by daughter Ann Mari Daley and son-in-law Dan Daley, as well as grandchildren Dan Daley, Esq., Brent Starr, Jr., Ashley Starr and Jamie Gilmour.

Also surviving are great-grandchildren Gage, Morgan and Mackenzie.

Cookie, indeed, was one of those unique gems lucky to be found once in a lifetime.

A Celebration of Life for Joan “Cookie” Fedun will be held on Match 5, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Coral Springs Country Club, 10800 West Sample Road, Coral Springs, Florida 33065.

If you would like to donate to this celebration, all donations should be made to the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs with proceeds earmarked for “First Lieutenant Joan “Cookie” Fedun Cadet Leadership Fund.

This fund provides scholarships and uniforms for Civil Air Patrol Cadets in need.

Donations can be made by check (Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, Attn: Lt. Cookie Fund, P.O. Box 9083 Coral Springs, FL 33075) or online.

by John Berry, for Harnesslink