“This Old House” recently announced the death of longtime landscape contractor Roger Cook, who passed away on Aug. 21 after a long battle with illness.
Cook’s time with “This Old House” spanned nearly 40 years, from his first involvement in 1982 — the show’s second season — to his decision to step down in 2020 because of health issues.
“I remember every lesson from Roger,” said “This Old House” executive producer Chris Wolfe. “More importantly, there are millions of people whose lives have been enriched by everything Roger taught them.”
Born in 1954, Cook grew up in Burlington, Mass., and considered a career in forestry while also working during college with local landscape and tree firms. In 1977, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine.
In 1982, Cook and his wife Kathleen founded K&R Landscape, focusing on plants and hardscape. They slowly expanded the business from their start, with one Jeep pulling a trailer full of lawn care equipment to a full-service landscape construction firm.
“Roger’s specialty and passion was plants, and no one was more knowledgeable,” said Fred Pendleton, Cook’s longtime friend and now co-owner of K&R Landscape with colleague Tom Pica. “You could ask Roger any question about any plant — which ones would survive shade, how to treat diseases, which perennials or annuals to choose, the best woody plants or deciduous trees for a certain backyard, even the Latin names for everything — and he knew it.”
“Everything I know I learned from Roger,” said Pica. “He was one of the greatest people you want to know. He worked hard, and we often worked 10 hours a day, six days a week. He absolutely believed that if you were going to do something, you should do it properly, whatever it took.”
Roger was a certified landscape contractor in Massachusetts and an active member of the Massachusetts Arborist Association. He also served as president of the board of directors of New England Grows and the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Contractors.
Cook’s journey with “This Old House” began in 1982 when he first appeared in the series. At the time, he worked as the landscape foreman for the Frost and Higgins Company. A phone call several years later from landscape architect Tom Wirth changed everything. It was 1988, the project was Season 10’s Lexington Bed & Breakfast renovation, and Roger was on board full-time as the landscape contractor. When “Ask This Old House” debuted in 2002, Roger was part of the team, providing expert landscape advice.
