Donaldson Craig Cole, Jr.

Honorable Donaldson Craig Cole, Jr., age 78, born in Perryville, Maryland on September 4, 1934, passed on February 14, 2012 at Laurelwood Care Center, Elkton, Maryland, where he received excellent and loving comfort care.  He was the son of Donaldson Craig Cole and Gertrude Cochran Cole.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Lawrence Cole, daughter, Carolyn May Cole, son Donaldson Craig Cole, III, granddaughter, Kathryn Cole and sister Rebekah C. Poppiti.  He also leaves several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his brother William H. Cole, III and Robert Cochran Cole (at age 4).

Judge Cole was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1961. He was a graduate of West Nottingham Academy, Colora, Md., Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., University of
Maryland School of Law (Juris Doctorate) and City of London College, London, England, where he studied International Law.  Judge Cole also attained the status of
Proctor in Admiralty. He was active in the private practice of law until elected in 1969 as
the State’s Attorney for Cecil County. He served in that position for fourteen years, after winning four consecutive elections. In 1980 he was publicly elected to the office of Judge of the Circuit Court for Cecil County, following wins in both the Republican and
Democratic primaries. He ascended to the bench of the Circuit Court for Cecil County in 1980, remaining until his retirement in 1997. During that time, he served as Administrative Judge for the Circuit and later as Chief Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of Maryland, which includes five counties on the Upper Shore (Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne, Caroline, Talbot). He was a member of the National District Attorney’s Association, and past President of both the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association and Cecil County Bar Association. He was also a member of the Mansfield Law Club, associated with the City of London College, London, England.
Throughout his life, he was associated with many organizations and charities.  He served in the United States Army from 1956 -1958.

Services will be held at Crouch Funeral Home, 127 South Main Street, North East, Maryland  21901, on Thursday, February 21, 2013, with visitation from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and a memorial service from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Judge Cole will rest at Cara Cove at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution will be welcomed by the Northern Chesapeake Hospice Foundation, 229 East Main Street, Elkton, Maryland 21921.

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