PHILLIPS C. COOKE
Phillips Carter Cooke, 91, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2023. He was born to parents Theodore Carter Cooke and Florence Phillips Cooke, on February 28, 1932 in Lynn, Massachusetts, just a few minutes before Leap Year Day. Of his close childhood relatives, he is predeceased by his brothers James Henry and Donald James, and leaves his sister Nancy Cooke Latta of Pomptom Plains, NJ. He is survived by his three children, their spouses, and six grandchildren: Jonathan Cooke and wife Sarah and their children Rachel and Josh of Newton; Peter Cooke and wife Mary Ann and their children Maddie and Jake of Westwood; and Jennifer Cooke Rotman and husband Richard Rotman and their children Matt and Sam of Westborough. He also leaves many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Phil and his loving wife Sally Smith Cooke had a story book marriage for 50 years and one day, until she passed away on July 10, 2010. Phil grew up on Bradlee Avenue in Swampscott, MA where he attended Junior High School. He graduated Kimball Union Academy in 1950, where he played on the football and tennis teams, and excelled on the ski team. From there he attended Dartmouth College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a minor in History, where he ran cross country, was coxswain for the crew team, and raced and ski jumped for the Dartmouth ski team. He remained a devoted Dartmouth alumnus.
After graduating college in 1954 Phil entered the USAF as a ROTC 2nd Lieutenant, serving as an Intelligence Officer in the 363rd Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, and earned his honorable discharge at the rank of Captain in 1957. Following discharge, he spent many years in business as President of Hume Pipe Corp and Vice President and Director of Lynn Sand and Stone Co, both family-owned companies based in Swampscott, MA. After sale of the family businesses in the early 1980s, Phil pursued a second career as a financial planner affiliated with Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co. He had many interests and hobbies including photography, and especially genealogy, researching his, his wife Sally’s and his three in-law children’s genealogies over the span of 30 years or more. Phil was a long-time member of the Old North Church in Marblehead, a former member of Tedesco Country Club, a 50-plus year member of the Corinthian Yacht Club, and a member of the American Legion as well as the New England Historical and Genealogical Society.
Phil was loved dearly by his family and had many close friends. He lived a full and active life including many adventures shared with others: skiing Tuckerman’s Ravine at age 12 in 1944; bicycling from Swampscott to Mackinac Island, MI at the age of 16 in 1948; trying out for the Olympic Ski Team; climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming via the Exum Route; fighting forest fires in Oregon; skiing at 121 ski areas over 78 years; climbing all 48 of the White Mountains over 4000 feet in NH with his children; golfing at least 146 golf courses; and travelling extensively with his wife Sally to many parts of the world on 6 continents, to name some. An avid train enthusiast, they took many scenic train routes during their US and world travels. Visiting Hours for Phil will be held Wednesday, May 24, 2023 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm Street. Family and friends are kindly invited to his Graveside Committal Service with military honors to be held on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Waterside Cemetery, 294 W Shore Drive, Marblehead followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. at Old North Church, 35 Washington Street, Marblehead. A reception and continuation of the Celebration of Phillips’ life will immediately follow the memorial service at the Corinthian Yacht Club, 1 Nahant Street, Marblehead.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dana Farber Sally Cooke Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215 or via www.dana-farber.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com for the Cooke family.