Author: Duane Fickeisen

The Reverend Ron Cook—parish minister, beloved teacher, endearing nonconformist, and craftsman extraordinaire—died on 6 July 2021, two months short of his 88th birthday.

Ron’s legacy was as a builder. For 27 years he helped build up Starr King School students seeking a religious calling. And starting in 1969, he built his own house on the California Big Sur Coast, where he died in a bed he also built. His spouse Deborah Streeter and dear neighbors stood by as members of the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade carried his body out along the path to a firetruck for an honor guard departure.

Ralph Hiram Cook, Jr., was born 27 August 1933 in Snohomish WA to Ralph Hiram Cook and Esther A. Cook. He grew up on a pea farm and was the first in his family to go to college, earning his B.A. in art and political science from Whitman College (Walla Walla WA) in 1955.

As a child Ron was a happy Cascades camper and a faithful Episcopalian acolyte, but at Seattle’s University Unitarian Church, he was encouraged toward professional ministry by Pastor Aron Gilmartin. He headed off to Starr King School in Berkeley and completed his B.D. in 1960, all the while discovering the San Francisco jazz and art scene and making dear lifelong friends.

Ron would proudly, maybe even gleefully, tell the tale of how the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) turned him down for credentialing, but the UU Church in Ventura CA nevertheless called him in 1961 with a telegram, “Boston be damned! We’ll have our own Tea Party,” and promptly ordained him. (The following year, the MFC relented.)

Ron resigned his Ventura ministry in 1966 for a year-long trip to Europe and Africa, then returned from Nigeria to work as Associate Director of Young Adult Programs at the UUA (1967–69). Starr King School President Bob Kimball invited Ron to join the faculty in 1969, where he promoted the distinctive Starr King style of education: student-centered and affirming of life experiences. “We teach by who we are—work done, credit given.” He taught preaching and worship, weddings and funerals (“Marry ‘Em and Bury ‘Em”), and UU History, with a special love for Emerson.

Ron retired from teaching in 1996, retreating to his beloved Big Sur home and a life of community service. He built up the local volunteer fire brigade, worked against local logging enterprises, and became a court advocate for foster kids, all the while continuing to make the house more livable year-round. In his last days he was still building, working on a bench just outside the kitchen window where he happily read and wrote. In his spouse Deborah’s words: “Ron’s organic life is never finished, and he and this house and hill live happily together.”

A memorial service on 9 October 2021 was held at the UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula (Carmel CA), conducted by Ron’s ministerial colleagues, Bill and Barbara Hamilton-Holway, with tributes from children, a neighbor co-builder, and a former student.

Memorial donations are encouraged to the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade, which Ron and Deborah helped to found. Providentially, the Brigade saved their home from destruction in the Soberanes Fire of 2016.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Deborah Streeter at 37755 Palo Colorado Rd, Carmel, CA 93923.