Jump to content

Roger Cook (landscaper)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 842U (talk | contribs) at 17:06, 15 September 2024 (→‎Personal life). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Roger Cook
Born1954 (1954)
Died (aged 70)
Alma materUniversity of Maine
Occupation(s)Gardener, landscape contractor, television personality
Years activeTelevision: 1982–2022
Television
Children2
Websitekandrlandscape.com

Roger A. Cook (1954 – August 21, 2024) was an American garden and landscape contractor, widely known as the resident landscaping expert on the PBS home renovation program This Old House (1988-2022 ) — as well as Ask This Old House and Inside This Old House.

Cook received an Lifetime Achievement Emmy, in 2022.[1]

Background

Cook was born in 1954 in Biddeford, Maine, to Arthur and Lucienne, one of their two sons. The family lived in Woburn, Massachusetts, initially, then settled in Burlington.[2] In high school, Cook was a member of the National Honor Society and played on the football and basketball teams;[3] he graduated from Burlington High School in 1972.[2] He received a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine.

He served as president of the board of directors of New England Grows, and was a member of the [[Massachusetts Arborist Association and Association of Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts.[1]

Cook was married to Kathleen Cooke (1954-2010).

Career

In 1977, Cook received a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine.[2] A certified landscape contractor in Massachusetts, Cook was an active member of the Massachusetts Arborist Association and served as president of the board of directors of New England Grows and the Association of Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts. Cook owned and operated K & R Tree and Landscape Company, which he and his wife, Kathleen, founded in 1982.[4]

Cook's first appearance on This Old House was also in 1982.[2][5] At the time, he was a landscape foreman with a private company and contributed to several This Old House projects, including the Bigelow Ranch and the Woburn House. In 1988, beginning with the Lexington Bed & Breakfast renovation, Cook became a full-time cast member on the show as its garden and landscape contractor.[2][4]

Cook served on the editorial board of This Old House magazine and contributed to Complete Landscaping, published in 2004 by This Old House Books in conjunction with Sunset Books.[citation needed]

In June 2018, Cook said he would reduce his role in the television programs due to unspecified health issues.[6] On January 7, 2020, during a The Tonight Show segment, This Old House host Kevin O'Connor announced that Cook was stepping down completely from the show. Cook was replaced by Jenn Nawada, who had appeared multiple times as a guest.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Obituary of Roger A. Cook". sullivanfuneralhome.net. August 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Roger Cook, Burlington, Center". The Sun. Lowell, Massachusetts. August 5, 1972. p. 6. Retrieved August 24, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "This Old House Biographies". This Old House. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  5. ^ "6 Questions for Roger Cook". This Old House. 2015-07-28. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "A Letter from Roger Cook". This Old House. June 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-04-29. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  7. ^ Jimmy Fallon; Kevin O'Conner (January 7, 2020). Ask This Old House Experts Show Jimmy How to Survive Winter at Home. New York City, New York: NBC. Event occurs at 0:21-0:43 (21 seconds to 43 seconds). Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.