Richard Cook

Richard P. Cook, 91, a lifelong resident of Espanola, passed away peacefully at his home on April 17, 2017 surrounded by his loved ones.  Richard was born in Espanola, New Mexico on March 25, 1926 to Windell P. Cook, a businessman and Sarah A. Acherman, a school teacher.  He graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1943.  After high school he was inducted into the U.S. Navel Service in 1944.  He served in the Navy in the Asiatic Pacific Arena during World War II.  He was a trained “frogman” that served as the predecessors to the Navy Seals.  After he was honorably discharged from the Navy, he went to college at Denver University where he graduated in 1950 with his degree in Business Administration.  Richard was an avid fisherman and loved the outdoors.
He returned to the Espanola Valley in 1950 where he started his career working for his father in the Espanola Mercantile.  In 1953 he married the love of his life, Shirley A. Gordon. Richard and Shirley were blessed with four daughters, Deborah Ann Cook, Kelly Marie Cook, Kim Alison Cook (deceased) and Katharine Alison Cook.
In 1957 Richard started the Espanola Transit Mix Company.  It was the beginning of an auspicious career that spanned six decades with business operations located in Espanola, Santa Fe, Los Alamos and other parts of northern New Mexico.  Richard eventually took over the Espanola Mercantile from his father renaming it Cook’s Home Center and growing into a well-known hardware store in the Valley.  Richard expanded his manufacturing and road construction businesses under the Espanola Mercantile Company flagship to include Espanola Transit Mix, Los Alamos Transit Mix, Associated Asphalt and Materials, EMCO of Santa Fe and RICO Construction. He also acquired and developed several sand and gravel mining operations in Espanola and Santa Fe.  His business operations made him one of the single largest private employers in northern New Mexico.
Richard was also a founding board member of Valley National Bank.  The bank solidified Richard’s position as a pillar in the Espanola community by providing capital and funding to a vast number of businesses and individuals in the Valley.  After celebrating 50 years in business, Valley National was sold to Century Bank in 2015.
In addition to his active business operations, Richard engaged in land acquisition and development.  His land acquisitions over the years made him one of the largest land owners in northern New Mexico.  His developments included business parks, residential and commercial subdivisions as well as leased commercial properties in Espanola, Santa Fe, Taos and Cuba.  His most recent commercial real estate development project included the Village Plaza at Tierra Contenta and Santa Fe Commercial Center, a combined 420-acre commercial development adjacent to the Santa Fe Airport in southwest Santa Fe.  He most recently completed construction on the Jaguar Interchange at NM 599 which will serve as the new gateway to the Santa Fe Airport and which was the first privately-funded interchange of its kind in New Mexico.
Richard was also philanthropic by nature.  He dedicated twenty years as a volunteer firefighter for the Espanola Fire Department and was an Eagle Scout and a troop leader for many years.  Richard was a major contributor to several charities and non-profit organizations, his favorite charities including those that supported the Valley’s children.
In 2016, Richard received the Living Treasure Award “in recognition of a man who has contributed to his community by establishing commerce and stability for generations by enriching the beautiful tapestry of the City of Espanola.” March 25, 2016 was also declared Richard P. Cook Day in the City of Espanola in recognition of his many contributions to the Espanola Valley.
Richard was preceded in death by his brother Tom Cook, and his daughter Kim Alison Cook.   He is survived by his wife of 63 years Shirley Cook, his daughters Debbie Cantrup, Kelly Armstrong and husband Hal Armstrong, Katharine Fishman and husband Andrew Fishman; his grandchildren, Lisa Bakosi and husband Jozsef Bakosi, Chelsea Cantrup, Kacie Caster and husband Matt Caster, Sarah Armstrong, Jacob Fishman, Kalyssa Fishman, and Zachary Fishman; and his great grandchildren, Peter Bakosi, Corinne Bakosi, Hunter Cantrup, Alexys Caster, Richard Caster and Brandon Caster.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Richard’s memory to the Rio Arriba County 4H Youth Development Program, the YMCA of Espanola or the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Fe/Del Norte.  A community celebration of the life of Richard P. Cook will be held this Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 1:00 pm at the Ohkay Owingeh Hotel Resort and Casino ballroom. The family of Richard P. Cook has entrusted the care of their beloved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory of The Beautiful Espanola Valley. 1-505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com

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