He was my grade 9 and grade 12 history teacher.
He must have got his doctrine degree after 1978 as he was highly
Intelligent and lived debates.

There are people constantly writing about him on the Westmount alumni group.
It just came up now for many.
Everyone is writing how he was there favorite teacher and  the best football coach.
It would be great for the family to read the comments.
I can be contacted so his children can read the positive comments.

I'm thinking about him and was so shy in his class.
I wish I would have been more engaged in the debates and read more.
I'm a huge history buff,

R.I.P. 
Karen Duckett
Karen Poltov
,

He was my first teacher when I did my first practice teaching stint at  HCI in 1970. I learned a lot. Later we reconnected when I became a school board curriculum consultant in the1980s.
A straight shooter. So when I took some time now in 2022 to look up some "history". I found that he had recently passed. Sad to know this.

John Myers OISE (retired)

To Richard & Cooke Family
It has been a long time since we were all growing up on Tragina & Weir Street, going to St. Mary’s Church, attending Bartonville School,  and having fun at Montgomery Park.   I was saddened to hear of Frank’s passing, he was everybody’s big brother.   I knew your Mom & Dad from Church, and Dorothy actually went to school with my Mom Betty.   So many memories come to mind and I feel blessed we have shared so many.  
My Sincere Condolences to you all and thanks for the Memories.
Joan Randle Grainger
Cornwall, Ont.


The most intelligent ,talented, funny ( hilariously so) and influential teacher I ever had, hands down-a truly inspiring entity-I could go on for a long time about Mr Cooke's brilliance and how his courses affected me-absolutely no one like him that I have known since-i feel fortunate to have been one of his students

Dr Cooke was my highschool teacher and inspired my love of history. 
He demanded we didn't sit on the fence .We loved those arguments which could last until after class.  Thank you Dr Cooke for being a great teacher.

Thank you coach. I was undersized and not very talented, but you gave me the chance to play. I hope that in life I honoured your confidence.
David Wearing.

My sincere condolences are with you and your family during this time. Frank was an incredible man, and I feel his loss deeply. On behalf of the entire Wilson Blanchard team, please accept our condolences.

Wishing you peace and comfort,
Asad Khan

Condolences to the Cooke family on Frank's passing. A good man! 
I first worked with Frank at Hamilton Collegiate Institute in 1971. If I couldn't see him in his classroom, I could always hear him! "What makes a great leader" was one of my favourite lectures, heard down the hall from my classroom!
A wellspring of facts and trivia and always ready for a discussion! 

Trish and Ron Fulton


I first met Frank while playing football and baseball at Montgomery Park during the summer months in the 1950's. Sometimes,  his brother Terry would join in. Frank was five years older than me and I remember him as a very hard tackler. Unforgettable football memories of him coaching HCI and  championship games against Cathedral Boys' High School. Later, I became  a high school football coach in Hamilton. Rest in peace, my friend.
Dennis D'Alessandro

Mr. Cooke was a remarkable teacher.  I had the pleasure and privilege of being in his grade 13 history class at HCI in 1967.  He treated his subject and his students with respect.  He introduced us to  fairly sophisticated issues in democracy and government including discussions about the tyranny of the majority and the perils of cab-driver governance.  He left an indelible impression on me.  You have my condolences but I am sure that he will live on in the hearts and minds of many.  Respectfully yours, Joe Nadel

I enjoyed many years playing in the old timers baseball at Turner park and curling with you . You were a true sportsman and leader.Thank you Doc  your friend  Jack Smith


He made me want to understand more.
Rest, Frank.

Sorry for your loss Terry.   I remember your dad at HCI.  Even though I was not a football player he was instrumental in getting me a scholarship in Ohio.  I will never forget that effort and you have to believe me, it was an incredible effort.  My thoughts are with you and your families.  Erik Kamermans     

As a fellow Hamilton east ender, I was fortunate to work with Frank on many ongoing condo boards here at Twenty Place.
Frank was never at a loss for words when it came to issues regarding the governance of our community and always with the residents well being at the forefront. Frank made everyone consider a second thought prior to any decisions and you had better be prepared to defend your decision. I, along with many Twenty Place residents, will certainly miss him and his positive influence on this community.


So, so sorry to hear of Mr. Cooke’s passing. Throughout my high school years at Central High, I had many teachers, but  know one garnered more Respect than Mr. Cooke. I say that because he was such a great guy. He always started his class with a discussion about current events, sports and anything else that we wanted to discuss.
Then , when it was time to get to work with our history, we all obliged him. He even played pool with a number of classmates at Anderson’s 
pool hall on Friday’s after school. You see , we were on shifts at that time. We were the morning choice. We had  such a hoot playing with him. He, Dr. Frank Cooke was a beautiful man. May you Rest in Peace.
My Sincere condolences to all of his Family . Ron Legato


Our heart-felt condolences to all of Frank’s family, friends, students, and team players. We have been Frank’s neighbours for 15 years and both of us have served with Frank on the board of directors of our condominium corporation. We enjoyed many conversations, discussions and “shooting the breeze” with him. His career in education loomed large in our estimation of his contributions because I, John, was also an educator. He will be greatly missed by all of us on Northernbreeze St. Rest in peace, Frank.


Kevin, Terry, Kelly, Alison, Rich & Joan.    

My sincere condolences to each of you on the passing of Frank. Although Frank was in grade 13 when I was in grade 9, I knew him well through hanging out at the playground of A.M. Cunningham Elementary School (known to us as the Cunningham A. C.) playing whichever sport was in season - softball, football & ball hockey. Softball was the most common activity due to the longer days of summer and no conflicts with practices of school teams.

Russ Evans

We were deeply sadened to learn that Frank had passed away and extend our sincerest condolences  to all family members at their great loss.As neighbours in Twenty Place for the past 19 years we felt fortunate to have Frank just across the street.On many occasions he would greet us and then add "I have a question for you?". Subjects were various but sports were favoured. His memory of sporting events ,participants,teams never ceased to amaze us. We share with family members this great loss. A fine gentleman  indeed! The Bains 

To Terry & Family,
Please accept our condolences. We are thinking of your dad, you and your family with great memories - HCI, and  Cougar days with the reunions in life 
Memories shared will forever be a part of your life. 
Emily and Dale 

What a pleasure to find Dr. Frank Cooke at the Hamilton Board of Education . He was always ready for a discussion and to share ideas. Above all he cared passionately about the good of public education . He made a big impact there and will be remembered fondly by many. Condolences for this fine man to his family.  Judith Bishop

I only knew Frank for a short while at the Glanford Curling Club.  We usually talked football.  Frank knew I routinely I worked in Columbus, Ohio and he always asked me to honk my horn when I passed by Wooster.  

Peace to your father’s and grandfather’s soul.
Our deepest condolences.


My Thoughts and Prayers are with the Family.  He was my History teacher back in the 60's at Central Secondary.  He used to tell  us some interesting stories.

Frank Cooke was my History teacher at Westmount in the early 80’s, and when you entered his classroom you knew you were in the presence of a master teacher.  Through relentless questioning and probing of student response, he helped us to see the universal patterns in the stories of history, and to understand ourselves and the world around us more clearly.
Thank you, Dr. Cooke…your constant striving for excellence has left footprints everywhere, including my own English classroom of 30+ years.
My deepest condolences to all…

For me Frank Cooke was always a character larger than life.  This impression began in high school days at Delta - where he was in Grade 13 and I was in Grade 9 - and continued over the years in any number of settings and situations.

Whenever I was in a room with Frank, I always listened closely to every word he said, made mental notes to myself, and kept my own mouth shut.   Frank was not a guy with whom you would want to become engaged in a battle of wits, because you would very quickly recognize that you were relatively unarmed.

My condolences to his family, especially Rich, Joan, Terry and Alison - all high-quality people I have met in one way or another over a lifetime in Hamilton and all of whom  deeply respect.


Wooster, Ohio 1971. Thanks for the memories…❤️

Heartfelt condolences to you and your entire family Terry 😢 So sorry for your loss, especially at this time of year 😢

Sending this message of sympathy for the family of Frank especially at this difficult time of the year. Frank was a good neighbour to all who new him in Twenty Place.  “Rest In Peace Frank” You will be sadly missed by all those whose lives you touched.


I taught with Frank at Westmount Secondary School. I was a member of the Science department there from 1967 to 1978. Later I worked at the old board office for five months in 1995 where I met Frank again. I remember Frank in the Westmount staff room, regaling all who were there with his fantastic memory for sports teams, personalities and statistics. I have never met anyone else who had such a memory for these facts and who was eager to share them with anyone who would listen. I agree, he loved an intelligent argument.

Frank Cooke - teacher, coach, mentor, scholar, athlete, admired, respected, quick to compliment excellence, to recognize achievement,  but at the same time critical of incompetence.  Frank loved and participated in sports - football, lacrosse, baseball and golf in his early years.  Curling, slow-pitch and even pickle-ball in later years.  He also spent years coaching most particularly and successfully in football, and to a lesser extent lacrosse. 

From the tributes offered it is obvious that Frank had a profound and lasting influence on his students and his student athletes.  He had a great concern for people particularly young people.  He was intense and thorough in all his pursuits.  

In the last chapter of his life, Frank spent a great deal of time and energy making the lives of those of us in our community a better place.

In our conversations in recent years he most particularly lauded the achievements of his grandkids, acceptable from a loving, doting grandpa.  He will be remembered.  He will be missed.  G. MacRae

Susan & David Bourne, offer our sincere condolences to Frank's family for their loss.  Coach Cooke was a guiding light and mentor as I pursued my career as a teacher /coach.
David Bourne;   N.C.C.P. , Facilitator and evaluator,
                                     Softball Canada.

Dr Cooke was definitely the most impactful teacher I had in high school. Firm but fair and yes be prepared at all times or watch out. Two memories stand out for me. First he recruited a few of us who showed interest in local politics in grade 11 to work on Terry’s first campaign. Not glamorous going door to door in Westdale but exciting for us. He lost,but we did much better the next time! 
Second memory, our Westmount Principal asked Dr Cooke to proof read my Valedictorian speech along with CoryP. We were still mad about the teachers strike ruining our grade 12 year and he encouraged us to speak our minds in front of the Trustees and Superintendent that following October. 
He served many of us very well and that is a life well lived if you ask me. 
RIP Dr Cooke

I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your dear father, grandfather, and friend.  Frank and I played many curling games together at Glanford Curling Club the last few years and he was always a wonderful mentor of the game.  I always enjoyed being a part of his team and will truly miss him.  R.I. P. Frank, you will be missed.  

Frank was my idea of the quintessential man.  I knew Frank as a fellow teacher for many years.  Since retirement we both curled at Glanford Curling Club.  Many people were impressed with his recall for various sport statistics.  What I most admired was Frank's memories of former students, both while they were at school and also their later careers and lives.

My condolences to all of his family.  He will be sorely missed but well remembered.
RIP Frank 

Doug French

The Cooke family goes way back for me. It goes to when we were kids 70 some yrs. ago. I knew Frank Sr. and Dorothy and Richard and Frank Jr.  Our condolences to the Cooke family at this time of the yr. nobody wants to lose a loved one. 
David and Darlene Smith

So sorry to hear of Dr Cooke's passing.  I was very fortunate to have him as a teacher at Westmount in the 1980s.  The biggest lesson I learned from him was it really didn't matter what side of a debate you took, but you had better be prepared to defend it. And, look out if you tried to flip-flop when he challenged you  :)

I was also lucky to see him quite regularly over the past 30 years. I would bump into him at Jackson Square in the early 1990s where I would be greeted with a loud. "Hey Bryant, Nice head!"  In the last 20 years I would see him often at Twenty Place where he was neighbour to my mom and dad. 
I know I'm far from the only former student he had a lasting impact on. He leaves quite a legacy and will be missed. He was truly one of a kind!


Frank Cooke was my history teacher at Hamilton Collegiate Institute. He prepared his students for university by insisting that our essays were written correctly and they had to be typed. When I entered McMaster I quickly realized that those of us who had him as a teacher were better prepared than many others in our first year.  He taught us to think and debate. A few months ago I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to tell him what he meant to me and many others. Thank you Frank Cooke.

I was in sea cadets, Delta and McMaster with Frank. We played football at Delta and McMaster where Frank always played with bare arms different for the times. We had the same history courses at MAC. I would think of Frank every time I would hear a person say”I never learned that in school.” Frank in class had read additional material thus stuff that was not taught. You need to study history in extra not the main material. He was worth knowing. RIP. 

Frank was my football coach. But his impact went far beyond the playing field. He was unique in many ways including a razor sharp memory. He was way ahead of his time for his coaching tactics. But it was no surprise to see his alternate universe as an educator also was hugely successful. He made an impact on many. Deep regrets- Glenn Gibson, Vice Chairman, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

My absolute favourite teacher at Westmount. His rapid wit, humour, engaging teaching style and, when required, his kindness, stayed with me long past high school. We were all better for having been taught by this giant in education. Godspeed Dr. Cooke. You touched so many lives. 

Saddened to hear of Dr. Cooke's passing.  Best high school teacher i ever had at Westmount.  We used to have some spirited discussions about many topics, notably the legacy of JFK.    My deepest sympathies to the entire Cooke family.     Thank you Frank for being  in my and many of my classmates' lives ! 

My favourite recollections of Ivor Wynne Stadium do not involve the Ticats (although I have many great Ticat memories). My Dad was a high school football coach. On city championship game days(mostly HCI vs. Cathedral), he and I would walk together from our home in the west end to the stadium. My old man lost in thoughts of the game he was about to coach in and a little boy just happy to have one on one time with his Dad. Thanks for the memories Dad…❤️

Frank was my history teacher at Merritton High School in St Catharines.   I always enjoyed his classes and his wry sense of humor.  Condolences to your family.

Brian Broadley,   Merritton High, class of '64

New Year's Day dinner at the Ancaster Old Mill. Always a tradition that was started by our grandfather, Frank Cooke Sr, middle lower row, with our dad, Frank Cooke, Jr, middle upper row. 
Memories to last a lifetime were celebrated here. 

Sorry to hear about the passing of coach Frank.In life you are in contact with people who have a great influence on you, for me, Frank was one of those persons. He gave me a huge opportunity as a football player and encouraged me to go to the next level. I came to HCI as a little known athlete and Frank took the time to get to know me  as both a player and person. Later on, as  a coach I tried to pattern myself after the example that he had set for me. Frank taught what teamwork was all about. He will be missed. 
Doug Cihocki 

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Frank Albert Cooke

19 novembre 1938 – 28 décembre 2021

Marlatt Funeral Home & Cremation Centre

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