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Tom Cook played many roles around Marshall County -- county health administrator, Glen Dale councilman, Boy Scout troop leader. Those who knew Cook, who died Saturday at age 62, said all of those roles revolved around one major trait. He was a leader who loved his community and would do whatever he could to make it a better place.
"His passing leaves a hole in this community that will be felt for years," Marshall County Administrator Betsy Wilson Frohnaphel said. "Not one person is going to be able to fill his shoes and everything that he did."
Cook's healthcare career included stints as respiratory therapist at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and nurse at Reynolds Memorial Hospital and Ormet. He then became the Marshall County Health Administrator, heading that department for years, including some of the toughest any health administrator would see.
He was in the job throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Frohnapfel said that, while he wasn't someone who craved the spotlight, he was out front the entire time, guiding the Marshall County Health Department and getting residents the most up-to-date information possible. He jumped into the trenches, too, driving to Morgantown himself at times to receive more COVID vaccines when the county ran out.
"Tom Cook was an absolute joy to work with," Marshall County Commission President Mike Ferro said. "And for all of the people that worked for him, he was a joy to work for. Those people absolutely loved Tom Cook because he led by example."
Cook served his community in other ways as well. He was a sitting Glen Dale city councilman at the time of his death. He also was the scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 82 in Glen Dale. As word spread of his passing, the troop and its current and former scouts offered their memories of Cook and how influential he was in their journeys in scouting.
Cook also was a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years,and a member of the Lion's Club, Moundsville Rotary, Bridgeport Masonic Lodge, Steubenville Scottish Rite, and Wheeling Osiris Shriners.
"Tom loved his community," Frohnapfel said, "and he wanted to be involved any way he could to help make it better, whether it was for the City of Glen Dale or the youth of Marshall County."
Cook's loss will be felt throughout the Marshall County community, Ferro said. He said he was at a service station Tuesday morning when he mentioned Cook had died. Three people at the service station all at the same time expressed their shock and mentioned how good of a person Cook was.
"They all said at the same time, 'Oh my God, he was such a good guy,'" Ferro said. "He was involved in everything and treated everyone with the utmost respect."
Family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. today at Grisell Funeral Home and Crematory, 400 Jefferson Ave., Moundsville. A Masonic service will be held at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Thursday. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery in St. Clairsville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cook's honor to the charity of the donor's choice.