Thursday, March 29, 2007

By Kameel Stanley

The Grand Rapids Press

Margaret Cook, one of the first female attorneys to practice law in Grand Rapids more than 50 years ago, died March 19 at the age of 82.

"Margaret was a great example," said Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Janet Neff, one of the many women Cook took under her wing.

"Margaret was a person who quietly knew what she wanted and set out to get it."

She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1949, one of three women allowed in the program at that time.

In Grand Rapids, she established an influential and long career, along with fellow attorneys Rosemary Scott and Jean McKee.

"She's the last of the original three," Neff said.

Mrs. Cook worked at the law firm now known as Law, Weathers & Richardson, in the U.S. Attorney's office and, later, at Old Kent Bank, becoming vice president and trust counsel in 1971.

"She was a pioneer ... trying to develop female leaders in the banking business," said John Canepa, former president of Old Kent.

"She deserved a lot of credit."

She also was a past secretary of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and former president of the Grand Rapids Red Cross.

After the death of her husband, former Kent County Circuit Judge George R. Cook in 1988, Mrs. Cook moved to Chelsea, west of Ann Arbor, to be closer to family.

"It never seemed odd to me that she worked," said her daughter, Anne Merkel, recalling her mother's career. "I realized as I got older what she had done .... I admired that tremendously."

Merkel said her mom was politically savvy, staying updated on current events.

Friends and family said her quiet and private nature didn't stop her from achiev-

ing what she wanted or positively impacting lives around her.

Mrs. Cook is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, Tim, and two grandsons, Brian and George, all of Chelsea.

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. April 20 at Silver Maples Retirement Community in Chelsea. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids, Faith in Action or the Huron Valley Humane Society.