Anthony Eaton Cook

Anthony Eaton Cook, a lifelong resident of Cooksburg, Pennsylvania, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died on October 11, 2026. He spent his life sharing his love of nature with others, especially his children, inspiring them to explore the world as fearlessly and curiously as he did.

Born on March 3, 1954, to Anthony Wayne Cook, Jr. and Dorothy McClintock Cook in Oil City, Pennsylvania, Anthony and his brother, Gayland Braun Cook, grew up on the banks of the Clarion River at their family’s ancestral home in Cook Forest State Park, land Anthony’s grandfather deeded to the state to establish Pennsylvania’s first state park. He attended the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and later Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, studying geology. As a young boy, he cared for an array of pets, including a skunk and a deer, the first of the many animals Anthony loved. Amongst the old-growth hemlock forest of Cook Forest, Anthony cultivated a deep love for the natural world that would manifest in conservation, art, energy, and travel.

After the passing of his father, Anthony entered the oil-and-gas business. He took over his family’s small utility company that had a few, barely producing, wells in Pennsylvania. He learned how to run oil drilling rigs, as well as operate and service the wells himself, and he steadily grew the small operation into a business he continued to run for the rest of his life. The work carried him to many regions of the U.S., and he cherished the wonderful people who became close friends and the source of countless stories.

Anthony remained a devoted conservationist, refusing to adhere to the stereotypical confines of his profession. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Aviary and served on the board of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. He continually advocated for Cook Forest State Park, from working with the government to protect the forest ecology to publishing his first book, “The Cook Forest: An Island in Time,” where his pictures exposed readers to the beauty and history of the largest old-growth forest remaining in the northeast.

That passion for Cook Forest and nature led to photography. Already a painter, Anthony picked up the camera in 1994 and seldom ever put it back down. After his first book, he traveled the globe on photography assignments for publications like the Sierra magazine and Discovery Channel. And in 2001, inspired by Henry David Thoreau, Anthony published “Fall Colors Across North America,” where he traveled more than 200,000 miles over four years to capture autumn hues across the continent. Those photos became a part of a traveling exhibition shown at places like the American Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Endlessly curious, Anthony remained a lifelong learner and brought a sense of discovery to every new journey he embarked on. His camera and spirit for adventure led him from Antarctica to remote rivers in Canada’s Northwest Territories, and to many trips into the Rocky Mountains, often with a Sheltie at his side. He watched the Northern Lights ripple across the Arctic sky and the sun set over the African savanna, always drawn to places where the natural world felt most wild. But his favorite place was, and always would be, Cook Forest.

Of all the paths his life took, none mattered more to him than the family he built. Anthony met Sandra Mack on a tennis court, and in 1990 the two were married. Together they raised three children. Anthony invested in his children’s passions wholeheartedly; he traveled across the U.S. for horse shows and tennis tournaments. His childhood love of animals continued throughout his life, and he joyfully shared it with family, especially his love of dogs. An avid Penguins fan, he enjoyed hockey games with friends and relatives. Come winter, he treasured time spent with his loved ones in Montana, where skiing became another way for them to share the outdoors together.

Anthony is predeceased by his parents and his brother. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Mack Cook; his daughters, Sara C. Orr (Stephen) and Courtney C. Schramm (W. Luke); his son, A. Bryson Cook; his grandson, Marlon T. Orr; his sister-in-law, Janet Cook; his niece, Heather Persic (Paul); and his nephew, Brandon Cook (Jenna).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Cook Forest State Park, P.O. Box 120 Cooksburg, PA 16217. Please make checks payable to Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation and write “Cook Forest” in the memo line. https://pph.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate The National Aviary, 700 Arch Street Pittsburgh PA 15212. https://www.aviary.org/support-our-work/

A Celebration of Life will be held in honor of Anthony for close friends and family.

Arrangements are under the care of the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory Inc: 330 Wood St. Clarion, PA 16214.

Friends and family may send online condolences, memorials, and obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net.