Alan W. Cook, 84, died at Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Berlin, VT, on July 28, 2026. He was born in New Bedford, MA, the son of Robert W. and Ruth J. (Harder) Cook. He attended local primary schools and graduated from New Bedford High School in 1959. As a Distinguished Military Graduate of Norwich University in 1963, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the US Army and assigned to the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps while he attended law school at Boston University, receiving his JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence) in 1966. He then served as a JAG officer in Heidelberg, Germany and Washington, D.C. While in Germany, he completed a Master's degree in International Relations at Boston University's Overseas Graduate School. After retirement from active duty in 1971, he remained in the Army Reserves, where he sat as a judge on the Court of Military Appeals in Washington.

Alan and his wife, Jeanne, who were married in 1966, moved to Northfield, VT in 1971, to raise their two daughters. They remained a part of the Northfield community until 2023, when Alan's illness necessitated a move.

After moving to Vermont, Alan practiced law in Barre, VT and served in the Attorney General's Office before being appointed to the bench in 1978 by Gov. Richard Snelling. He presided in criminal, superior, and family courts throughout Vermont until his retirement. In retirement, Alan worked part-time as a judge and mediator and served on various public boards.

Alan was particularly proud of being recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by his alma mater, Norwich University in 1993, and his service as President of the Alumni Association.

Alan had a lifelong interest in world affairs, history, and genealogy. He and Jeanne also loved travel, particularly on numerous trips to Europe, South Carolina, and Great Pond on the Belgrade Lakes in Maine, a place where four generations of the Cook family holidayed in the summers. He especially enjoyed revisiting Germany, where he had fond memories from his military service, and was most interested in the culture and language of the country, home to some of his ancestors. Especially memorable were the trips that Jeanne and Alan took to Russia and China.

Alan was a warm, gentle and devoted father to his daughters and a kind and generous grandfather to his grandchildren. Despite his sharp intellect and encyclopedic knowledge of world history and the law, he remained forever humble and modest. To those who knew him, Alan will be remembered for his steady presence, integrity and wry sense of humor. He will be eternally missed.

Alan was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne of Montpelier, VT; his two daughters, Jennifer of Boston, MA, and Krista and her husband, Donal Myles, of Edinburgh, Scotland, and their two children, Conor and Eleanor; and his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Laurell Cook of Lakeville, MA and their two sons.

The family wishes to give special thanks to the extraordinary staff at Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, who treated Alan with dignity, humor, and tender care.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, August 11th from 4-6 p.m. at Kingston Funeral Home, 35 Slate Avenue, Northfield, VT, 05663. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 142 Woodridge Drive, Berlin, VT 05602, directed to the Maple Grove unit and/or the Woodridge Activities Department.

Arrangements are in the care of Kingston Funeral Home. To share online condolences, please visit www.vtfuneralhomes.com.