Allen M Cook

Allen McLaren Cook, 87, of Oro Valley, passed away peacefully the afternoon of May 19 following a private jazz concert performed by friends at his bedside. Al, as he was known to his friends, always loved a good show and never left early. He was born March 18, 1929, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and served as a cadet in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He moved to the United States as a young man and managed transportation all over the world for Moral Re-Armament and Up With People. Over the years, he shared countless car conversations driving dignitaries, elected and business leaders and entertainers around cities on almost every continent. These years drove his love of driving and fondness for cars. When he finally settled down in Arizona as a proud, naturalized U.S. citizen, he worked as a legislative lobbyist, launched and ran the Sun Tran bus system for the city of Tucson and owned a general contracting business. He loved to build things well and he loved to help the community; Casa De Los Ninos was one of his many clients. He went on to work as a building inspector and project and fleet manager for the city of Marana, climbing ladders, walking roofs and buying cars into his seventies, beating cancer twice along the way. But his passion throughout his life was the big band jazz he grew up listening to. In his later years he dedicated much of his time to sharing jazz with as many people as possible, bringing big-name talent to Tucson for public concerts and instructional sessions for music students through the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council and its successor organization, the Southern Arizona Arts & Culture Alliance. He and his wife, Marilyn, received many awards for their community service, including the 2007 Humanitarian of the Year honor from GOVAC and the 2011 Legacy Award from the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. His pride in his community was matched only by his love for his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Margaret, and his brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sister-in-law Gay Cook of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; son Allen M. Cook Jr. (Amphitheater HS Class of ’85; Pima CC Class of ’92) and daughter-in-law Mamie Morlacci-Cook (Tucson HS Class of ’88; University of Arizona Class of ’92) of Houston, Texas; son Glenn Cook (Salpointe Catholic HS Class of ’88; University of Arizona Class of ’92) and daughter-in-law Stacy Cook of Las Vegas, Nevada; grandchildren Kyle, Sophia, Kellen, Camden and Anthony; and nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 E. Grant Road, with a reception to follow at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road.