Cosima D. Vitus Rankin Fund

About the fund

Cosima Rankin proudly displays her catch of the day.

Robert (Bob) H. Rankin and Cosima D. Vitus married in 1960, after knowing each other for six years. 

After 15 years of blissful marriage, Cosima developed Alzheimer’s in 1975, and Bob was thankful that its progression was very slow. She suffered with the disease for seventeen years. Bob had made a promise that she would never be put into a nursing home, and he made the decision to remain at home to take care of her. For a while, he said, it was touch and go who would die first because in the process of caring for Cosima, Bob’s health also suffered.

In 1990, Bob discovered the Grace Center Adult Day Services program, which was established to enable caregivers to have some much-needed time to themselves. Bob brought Cosima to Grace Center a couple of days a week until they both felt comfortable, then she began attending activities five days a week.

Grace Center offers opportunities to socialize, be creative, get exercise, and share friendship. At the time, the Center was operated by Cheri Babb, a registered nurse. “I don’t know what I would have done without Cheri Babb,” Bob said. Although Cheri climbed to the top of hospital administration, Cheri once told Bob that she preferred to work closer to people, which she did with energy and charm. Cheri got to know both Cosima and Bob well, once Cosima began to participate in Grace Center activities. “Cosima was a beautiful woman and a joy to have around,” Cheri recalled. “She never failed to say ‘Thank you’ for any small thing someone did for her.”

Cosima continued going to the Center during the day until shortly before her death. On November 27, 1992, Cosima died at home in Bob’s arms. The program for her memorial service contained the following words:

She was different, she was special, unique in a thousand ways.
She was giving, she was loving, and we’ll miss her all our days….

“Cosima was the most patient, loving, and caring person you’d want to meet,” Bob explained. “You never heard her speak ill of anyone. Her smile was a joy to see. We lived happily ever after.”

As a memorial to Cosima and in grateful appreciation for the support of the Grace Center, Bob established the Cosima D. Vitus Rankin Fund. Additional contributions were made by friends in Cosima’s memory. Bob died on January 20, 2004 and his estate made another generous contribution to his wife’s memorial fund. The fund benefits the Grace Center for Adult Day Services.

Cosima’s Background

Bob and Cosima