Alexander Kosofsky, 97, died at home on Aug. 23, 2010, with his daughters at his side. He was born June 25, 1913, in Highland Falls, N.Y. His father was a tailor for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his mother was a homemaker for his five siblings.

Poppy played semi-pro hockey for a New York Rangers farm team before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. After his military service, Poppy met and married Dorothy Ann Bender, “Nanny” of Pittsburgh, Penn., on June 25, 1947. They shared 58 years together and raised two daughters, Karen and Kathy. Poppy spent the first 75 years of his life in Highland Falls before moving to Oak Harbor to be with his daughters.

Poppy is survived by daughter Karen Norvell, her husband Greg, and grandson Steven of Oak Harbor, and daughter Kathy Schallot, her husband Charlie, and grandsons Christopher and Travis of Kitsap County. He also leaves his last surviving sibling, Rosalie Orloff of Burbank, Calif., many nieces and nephews in New York and California.

Poppy was preceded in death by Dorothy in 2005.

Poppy was a quiet, kind and proud man. Nothing made him happier than a spaghetti dinner surrounded by his family. There was a private family service to celebrate his life at his favorite ocean side park on Whidbey Island.

His girls want to share with the world how much they treasured every day they had with both their parents. Poppy and Nanny were the parents everyone wanted. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel where family and friends may go online at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com to sign a guest register and leave memories for the family. Donations may be made to the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation at www.whidbeygen.org/whidbeygeneralhospitalfoundation.