Thomas James Cook

Thomas James Cook Jr., 84, of Chapel Hill, died on Monday, November 24, 2025, after a long battle with Lewy body dementia. He was in his home of nearly 50 years surrounded by his loved ones and listening to his favorite records. Born May 15, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Lucy O’Neill Cook and Dr. Thomas James Cook. He was raised in Coral Gables, Florida, with his brothers, Peter and Tony Cook, and his sister, Carol Emery, and attended Coral Gables High School.

Tom received a football scholarship to Florida State University, where he met his future wife, Vici Cornelison. Together, they shared 61 years of marriage. At the center of Tom’s life were his wife, Vici, and his daughters, Stacia Cook Ontjes and Casey O’Neill Cook. His daughters are eternally grateful for his unconditional love, sense of humor and curiosity about the world. Tom and Vici were partners in life’s adventures. They traveled the world together and also enjoyed the simple rhythms of daily life - like watching birds from their kitchen table.

One of Tom’s proudest achievements was earning his PhD in Political Science from Florida State University, which launched a distinguished career in public policy and international development. He began his academic career teaching political science at Penn State University and later at the University of Illinois at Chicago, before he and Vici moved their family to Chapel Hill in 1976, when he joined RTI International.

At RTI, Tom became a prominent national expert in evaluating major federal and state programs. He applied this expertise to significant U.S. government initiatives, including a landmark evaluation of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. In the 1990s, he joined RTI’s Center for International Development, where he led key evaluations of USAID and other foreign aid programs and helped guide USAID’s overall evaluation policy. He published widely in peer-reviewed journals. He was a Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Inspired by his love of books, Tom partnered with Grant Kornberg to open the Hardback Cafe & Bookstore in downtown Chapel Hill (1985-1994).

Colleagues remember him as an “evaluator par excellence,” a generous mentor to those “wet behind the ears” on their first trips abroad, and a steady, ethical presence on challenging assignments—from long, freezing drives back to Kharkiv Ukraine to fieldwork in Senegal and Central Asia. To those who worked with him, he was the colleague everyone hopes to have: principled, unselfish, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, humorous, and—above all—a good friend.

After retiring from RTI Tom began work as an international consultant. He was guided by a steady commitment to beneficence, justice, and responsible stewardship of public resources. His work as a consultant took him from Central America to Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia, often into countries emerging from conflicts or authoritarian rule.

To his grandchildren – Olivia, Noah, and Max Ontjes – he was simply Poppy, their No. 1 supporter and favorite jokester. They remember sunny beach days at Bald Head Island, competitive games of Gin Rummy and chess, countless UNC and FSU games, and his unmistakable presence at their swim meets and soccer matches—moments that made each of them feel uniquely seen and deeply loved.

He is survived by his wife, Vici Cook; his daughters, Stacia Cook Ontjes and Casey O’Neill Cook; and his cherished grandchildren, Olivia, Noah, and Max Ontjes. He is also survived by his brother, Tony Cook, and his nephew Parker Emery, a fellow ‘Nole whom he loved like a son.

The family is especially grateful to Tom’s caregiver, Pastor Sibrian, for the love and kindness he provided Tom in his final years. Tom now joins his mother, Lucy O’Neill Cook; his father, Dr. Thomas James Cook; his brother, Peter Cook; and his sister, Carol Emery, in eternal rest and peace.

All are welcome to join the family for a Celebration of Life reception at the North Carolina Botanical Garden on January 31, 2026 at 2pm to share stories, memories, and love. In true fashion, guests are encouraged to “rock their flip-flops” in his honor.