Ralph Cooke

Ralph Cooke died of a stroke on December 23, 2025; he was 77 years old. He is survived by his wife Kathleen and daughter Ana; his son Luke, daughter-in-law Soma and his grandchildren Ellora, Aadhira, and Ishani; his brother Ed and sister-in-law Nancy, his niece Libby, his nephew's family Eddie, Stephanie, Edward, and Matthew; as well as his sister Kathryn, brother-in-law Tim, and nephew Ben.
Throughout his life, Ralph was known for his generous heart, sage wit, and indominable spirit. Ralph grew up in Pompton Plains, where he served as a Boy Scout and played football as a teen. He graduated from Alfred University with a degree in English. A lover of the wild, Ralph then moved to Tupper Lake, where he met his future wife Kathleen teaching in the Adirondacks. Kathy shared his love of folk music and literature and his dauntless spirit, and the two traveled abroad teaching ESL in Spain before settling down in Sussex County, New Jersey; they were married in 1977.
Ralph was a passionate teacher and a beloved contributor to his community. He taught English at West Milford High School; after directing several high school plays, Ralph developed the first high school news production program in New Jersey, leading students to produce a weekly local news show until he retired. Ralph was also a small business owner; he and his brother Ed ran the Culver Lake Wicker Outlet on weekends.
An avid reader with a keen intellect who loved games, Ralph warmed many lives with his good humor and insight. He was always ready to listen to others' perspectives and share a kind word. He loved the outdoors, and spent his free time hiking, swimming, camping, and white-water rafting. He was also a lifelong skier, and he joined the National Ski Patrol at Hidden Valley in 1999 and served as an active member for twenty-six years. In addition to patrolling, Ralph taught Outdoor Emergency Care courses for nine years and served as the NJ Region Alumni Director. He was awarded the Leadership Commendation Appointment in 2019 for his work on the patrol, and was an active skier until he died.
"The mountains are calling, and I must go," was one of Ralph's favorite quotes. He leaves behind many loved ones and friends who will dearly miss his untamed spirit. Ralph will be remembered with a celebration of life later in the spring; for information, please contact his wife Kathy at kmscooke@gmail.com or his daughter Ana Cooke at ana.cooke@proton.me.