The Tool Desk
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Cook’s family and the official This Old House remembrance described his death as following an extended illness. No reliable public source has identified a more specific medical cause.
A nearly 40-year connection to This Old House
Cook’s association with This Old House began in 1982, during the program’s second season. At the time, he was working as a landscape foreman for Frost and Higgins and contributed to early projects including the Bigelow Project and the Woburn House.
He became a full-time cast member in 1988, during the Lexington Bed & Breakfast renovation, taking on the role of the show’s garden and landscape contractor. His television work eventually included both This Old House and Ask This Old House, giving him one of the longest-running relationships with the program.
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Cook was more than a specialist brought in to finish a project after the house itself was complete. His work showed viewers how grading, planting, trees, paths, patios, drainage, lighting, and garden design affect the way a home is used and maintained.
Colleague Richard Trethewey described Cook’s contribution as bringing “the backyard into the house”—treating outdoor space as another room of the home. That idea became one of Cook’s defining contributions to the program.
From wildlife management to landscape construction
Cook was born in Biddeford, Maine, in 1954 and grew up in Burlington, Massachusetts. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1972 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine in 1977.
His education helped shape a career that connected practical landscaping with the health of plants, trees, soil, and surrounding land. He became a certified landscape contractor in Massachusetts and was involved with professional groups including the Massachusetts Arborist Association, New England Grows, and the Association of Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts.
According to his family obituary, Cook served as president of the boards of directors of New England Grows and the Association of Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts. An archived Massachusetts government program also documented his degree, certification, and professional affiliations.
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K&R Tree and Landscape
In 1982, Cook and his wife, Kathleen “Kathy” Cook, founded K&R Tree and Landscape. The company reportedly began with a Jeep, a trailer, and basic lawn equipment before growing into a full-service landscape-construction business.
Cook focused on plants, trees, and hardscape work, while Kathy handled business responsibilities. The company remained an important part of his professional life, and the official This Old House remembrance said it continued to operate after his death.
His documented work and teaching covered a wide range of outdoor subjects: lawn repair, soil testing, garden tools, planting, storm-water runoff, landscape lighting, bluestone and flagstone construction, orchard planting, yard cleanup, and raised garden beds. These projects reflected his emphasis on understanding a site before changing it.
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Cook publicly addressed his reduced television role in a 2018 letter to This Old House readers. He said that several health issues had made television work more difficult and that he wanted to devote more attention to his health and family.
The official remembrance says he stepped down in 2020 because of health issues, while his current cast biography identifies January 2020 as the point when he stepped away from the role. The public record supports a health-related reduction and departure, but it does not establish a specific diagnosis.
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His eventual death was described by the family and contemporary coverage as following a long or extended illness. There is no reliable basis for adding a more specific cause.
Mentorship and influence
Cook’s influence continued through the people he trained and encouraged. The official This Old House biography identifies him as a mentor to later landscape professionals, including Jenn Nawada.
Former protégés and colleagues have continued the standards Cook brought to the show: careful observation, sound construction, respect for plants and trees, and attention to how outdoor spaces mature over time. His legacy therefore rests not only on the projects viewers saw but also on the practical knowledge he passed to the next generation.
For viewers, Cook also made landscape work understandable. He explained why a lawn fails, how water moves through a property, what a tree needs to thrive, and how materials such as bluestone and flagstone should be installed. His television lessons treated outdoor work as skilled construction and stewardship rather than decoration.
Family and life away from television
Cook’s wife, Kathleen, died of cancer on December 1, 2010. He is survived by his son, Jason Roger Cook, and daughter, Molly E. Cook; his son’s wife, Anna; three grandsons, Peter, Noah, and James; and his brother, Greg Cook.
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The family obituary described Cook’s close relationships with his children and grandchildren and his ties to his community. He enjoyed fishing, Cape Cod, gardening, and spending time outdoors—interests that were closely connected to both his professional work and his identity.
A legacy of conservation and service
Cook’s family announced plans for a Cook Family Giving Fund to continue his tradition of helping others. The areas identified for support included wildlife and land conservation, medical research, childhood education, and military veterans.
The family’s plans reflect the broader themes of Cook’s life: practical education, care for the land, support for families, and service to the community. Readers who wish to contribute should verify the fund’s current status and official donation instructions before giving, since the available information and program details may change.
A later official This Old House tribute described a Parrotia persica tree planted in Cook’s memory. The memorial tree, along with the work of his former protégés, offers a fitting image of his legacy: something living, carefully tended, and intended to endure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to revisit Roger Cook’s work
Archived This Old House and Ask This Old House material preserves Cook’s lessons on planting, lawns, trees, drainage, hardscaping, and garden construction. Viewers looking for Roger Cook’s archived This Old House work should consult current official program listings and archival pages, because streaming access, episode availability, and pricing can change.
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Some archived instructional pages attributed to Cook remain available through This Old House. A page’s current update date does not necessarily mean that the underlying advice was newly created; readers should distinguish between the original historical segment and later revisions to the webpage.
Roger Cook’s career at a glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1954 | Born in Biddeford, Maine; grew up in Burlington, Massachusetts. |
| 1972 | Graduated from Burlington High School. |
| 1977 | Earned a degree in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine. |
| 1982 | Founded K&R Tree and Landscape with Kathleen Cook and became involved with This Old House during its second season. |
| 1988 | Became a full-time This Old House cast member and the program’s garden and landscape contractor. |
| 2018 | Explained in a letter to viewers that health issues had reduced his television work. |
| January 2020 | Stepped away from his regular television role, according to his current cast biography. |
| August 21, 2024 | Died at age 70 after an extended illness. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Roger Cook’s cause of death?
Public statements described Roger Cook’s death as following a long or extended illness. No reliable public source identified a more specific medical cause, so it would be inappropriate to speculate.
When did Roger Cook join This Old House?
Cook first became involved with This Old House in 1982 while working for Frost and Higgins. He became a full-time cast member and the show’s garden and landscape contractor in 1988.
Why did Roger Cook leave This Old House?
Cook reduced his television work because of health issues and stepped away from the role in 2020. In a 2018 letter, he said he wanted to focus more on his health and family.
What company did Roger Cook own?
Roger Cook and his wife, Kathleen “Kathy” Cook, founded K&R Tree and Landscape in 1982. The company grew from a small operation into a full-service landscape-construction business and continued operating after his death, according to the official remembrance.
The Bottom Line
Roger Cook brought landscape construction, gardening, and conservation into the center of This Old House for nearly four decades. His work lives on through the company he founded, the professionals he mentored, the practical lessons he left viewers, and the family’s plans for continued charitable giving.
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