Jeff Cook, "Notable" in Norfolk County Registry Book of Deeds

Norfolk Registry of Deeds asks Town of Medfield for a Notable....

The Norfolk Registry of Deeds asked the Town of Medfield for a "notable" to be included in its annual book of deeds. Kindly, former Medfield Town Historian, Richard DeSorgher prepared the following submission.

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Notable Land Records, Volume III

Town of Medfield Nomination: Admiral Jeffrey Alan Cook, United States Navy
Jeff Cook remembers his sophomore year of football at Medfield High School.

The year was 1961 and Jeff lived across the street from the high school on 13 Pound Street with his parents, Arthur and Jeanne and two brothers. The team had been winless for several years. Fans were discouraged. The players were discouraged. The school year 1961 started with a new football coach and on a bright and crisp fall Saturday Medfield, with the help of a three-yard plunge into the end zone by Jeff, beat East Bridgewater for their first win after over thirty-two consecutive defeats. The town rang the victorious football score over the fire whistles and a spontaneous parade formed.

Jeff Cook was embarking on a successful journey through Medfield High School and upon graduation, Medfield High School would propel Jeff into a future that would be filled with achievements and amazing accomplishments.

In 2007 Jeff Cook returned home to Medfield High School on what is called Class Day. There Jeff was inducted into the Hall of Excellence, an honor reserved for alumni who excelled at Medfield High School and then went on to make positive contributions to their community and country. At
Medfield High School, Jeff Cook served as Class President during his freshmen, junior and senior years and Vice President during his sophomore year. He was President of the National Honor Society and was a driving force on the school’s Student Council. He was a standout player
on the varsity baseball team and co-captain of the varsity football team. During his junior year he received the Harvard Book Award. At the close of his senior year he was awarded the Scholar Athlete Award. In the 1964 yearbook his classmates voted him “class leader,” “most likely
to succeed,’ “class brains,” and “most versatile.”

Jeff left MHS to attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, where as a first classman he served a term as the Brigade Commander. He was also selected as a “Trident Scholar” to do independent research, and graduated fifth in his class. He went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University. He earned his Navy wings in 1970 and was a carrier pilot with Fighter Squadrons Forty-One and One-Forty-Two. He went on to be both a missile project officer and project officer for the F-14 Tomcat Aircraft. He was the team leader for the Joint Advance Strike Technology Force, which later became the F-35 program. He was promoted to Rear Admiral and served as the program Executive Officer for Tactical Air Programs, and later as the Vice Commander of the Naval Air Systems Command. During his time in the Navy he received the Legion of Merit Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. He was honorably discharged from the military in 2002, after proudly wearing the uniform of our country for just under 38 years.

Afterwards he returned to civilian life and was employed as a vice president at BAE Systems, an aerospace company in Nashua, New Hampshire.

He retired in 2009 and moved to South Yarmouth on Cape Cod where he currently lives with his wife Linda. They have two grown children, Jason and Natalie and three grandchildren. Jeff and Linda are now able to spend time with their children and grandchildren.