Music and acting come naturally to Bob and Mary Cosey

By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

One couple who live in Dearborn have been bitten by an infectious bug: the acting bug. “[Acting] comes easy and natural for me,” Mary Cosey says. She recently played civil rights activist Rosa Parks in a scene from the play Buses by Denise Nichols. The play performed to a full house at the legendary Detroit Reparatory Theater.

Mary Cosey was so wellreceived for her acting in Buses, she has been asked to return for an encore performance.

“It was a great feeling to be able to play such a person as Rosa. I was just overjoyed,” she says.

Since moving to Henry Ford Village from Detroit, the Coseys have continued to hone their talents at the vibrant community. Bob sings in the Barbershop Group Village Choir, and also teaches a framing class.

Meanwhile, Mary Cosey divides her time between the Red Hat Society and the computer club on campus, and serves as a nursing volunteer taking blood pressure for fellow community members once a month.

When Mary Cosey first visited the Dearborn community of Henry Ford Village several years ago, she was instantly hooked.

“I had been invited to lunch here,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘This is nice, I could live here.’”

Cosey shared her enthusiasm for the community with her husband Bob, who wasn’t sold on the idea initially. Eventually, the couple made an appointment for a tour.

Bob says he was truly impressed with his first visit. “I asked, ‘Where can I leave my deposit?’”

The Coseys did make their deposit and were on the waiting list for 15 months, when they learned the apartment home of their choice was ready and waiting.

“We were really excited about it,” Bob Cosey says.

Music unites couple 50 years ago
The Coseys first met in 1957 as members of the Sacred Heart Choir Ensemble in Detroit; the couple married in 1959.

“We formed a camaraderie,” he says.

While Bob Cosey prefers singing, Mary Cosey is the actress in the family.