Thomas Kent Cooke

1947 - 2025

Thomas Kent Cooke

September 7, 1947 - March 24, 2025

Mariposa, California - Thomas "Tom" Kent Cooke was born on September 7, 1947 in Oakland, California and passed away on March 24, 2025 in Modesto, California. He was raised by his mother, Ellen Jane Cooke. Tom always believed education and hard work inferred a lot about a person's character. As such, he worked diligently in his schooling. He attended St. Francis High School in Oakland and then went on to attend UC Santa Barbara for his undergraduate education where he studied environmental biology. After undergrad, Tom found himself seeking a path to a fulfilling career that would provide rewarding challenges and life stability. He decided to attend law school. Tom successfully completed his legal education at Lincoln Law School in Sacramento, Ca and began his career as an attorney. He opened a small law firm in Madera, California; and it was there that he met his wife-to-be, Nancy Carroll Cooke. They married on May 1, 1982, welcomed two children during the marriage, and remained together until her untimely passing in 2017.

Tom's career as an attorney was nothing short of extraordinary. He worked as a Merced County Deputy District attorney from 1985-2009. Tom always exhibited a strong sense of fairness, and was deeply committed to seeking justice through integrity. During his time as a deputy district attorney, he indisputably established himself as a respected employee and colleague. He successfully prosecuted countless cases ranging from misdemeanors to felony murder trials. Tom was known by his colleagues, friends and family to always exhibit a sharp legal mind, with a strong professional demeanor who confidently became a master of his craft. Furthermore, his congeniality, personable demeanor and strong interpersonal skills made him a mentor and trusted confidante in his work and home life alike.

After retiring from the Merced County District Attorney's office in 2009, Tom went on to be appointed as the District Attorney for Mariposa County in 2012. He served 6 years in this position and retired in 2018. Despite his second retirement, Tom continued to contribute to his community and utilize his legal acumen while representing the interests of foster youth in Mariposa County. Tom had a dynamic personality and a sharp wit; he was a lawyer by profession, however he carried his will for justice into his everyday life. He always told his children, "just do the right thing". He loved to argue, but not in a mean-spirited way. He had a fondness for back-and-forth debates and seeing all sides of a topic. He believed there was always an argument to be made.

Aside from Tom's legal career, he had many interests and philanthropic endeavors. He was a music lover, with some of his favorites being the Eagles and the Grateful Dead. He loved reading, sailing, gardening, and card games, where he was known to dominate the game of Gin. Tom was a very generous person and dedicated his time, talents and resources to various organizations. He was a 23 year member of the Lake Yosemite Sailing Association, a 25 year member of the Elks Club of Merced and a 14 year member of the Rotary Club of Mariposa Yosemite. Over the years, and especially in his later years, Tom also embarked on many travels. He ventured to places such as Belize, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Ireland, Canada, New England and other parts of the United States. In 2020, Tom began dating his partner, Deb. They enjoyed much traveling, dancing, card games and chats over a bottle of wine. Tom almost overcame his fear of heights on a trip to the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington when Deb persuaded him to cross a glass floor on the observation deck 500 ft above the city of Seattle. Tom was deeply happy to have found love again. They truly enjoyed their quality time together and Deb ensured his happiness in his final years.

Tom will be remembered as intelligent, witty, and someone who always showed up for his family and friends. He was also a fun-loving and laid-back person who would often be seen wearing one of his signature Hawaiian t-shirts. Tom will be greatly missed, but we are left with many wonderful memories of a life well-lived.

He is survived by his children, Ian Cooke and Sydney Cooke, his partner Debra Harden and his sister, Ellen Miller.

As Tom would say, "It's all good!"

Please join us for Tom's Party on April 5th, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Lake Yosemite Sailing Association.

(In lieu of flowers please donate to the Rotary Club of Mariposa Yosemite.).