Roger A. Cook, owner of K&R Tree and Landscape Company in Burlington and longtime cast member of This Old House, died Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the age of 70 after a long illness. He was the loving husband of the late Kathleen E. (Gulde) Cook, with whom he shared many wonderful years of marriage before her death on December 1, 2010.

Roger was born in Biddeford, Maine, one of two sons of Lucienne and Arthur Cook, Jr. His family lived in Woburn for a time and then eventually settled in Burlington. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1972, where he played basketball and football on the varsity team. Throughout his education, he also worked part-time and summer jobs as a landscaper. He then earned his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management and Conservation Law from the University of Maine. Roger had humble beginnings, but no matter how successful he was, his deep-rooted humility always remained. Roger founded K&R Tree and Landscaping with his wife, Kathy, in 1982, which they owned and operated together for more than 40 years. He started with a Jeep, trailer and lawn mower and worked tirelessly to build his business. They worked as a team, with Kathy handling the business details and Roger handling plants and landscaping on site. They led by example and believed in the wonderful comfort that a well-designed landscape brings to a home.

Roger’s journey with This Old House began in 1982, when he first appeared on the show. At the time, he was working as a foreman landscaper for the Frost and Higgins Company, but that didn’t stop him from contributing ideas and expertise to several This Old House projects. In 1988, Cook earned his stripes renovating the Lexington Bed & Breakfast and became a full-time cast member on the show as a garden and landscape contractor. A certified landscape contractor in Massachusetts, he was an active member of several organizations including the Massachusetts Arborist Association, New England Grows, of which he was board chairman, and the Association of Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts. He also appeared in commercials for “Dig Safe” for many years. You might think that being on TV for nearly four decades, receiving a 2022 Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement, having over 30,000 Twitter followers and a Wikipedia page would go to your head, but Roger always stayed true to himself: friendly, passionate and always humble. He was the regular guy next door, always ready to help with a gardening project or coach his son and daughter’s basketball teams. He proudly stood courtside at his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, hung out with childhood friends and neighbors, and enjoyed simple summer days on Cape Cod fishing and sitting on the beach. When he wasn’t out supporting his loved ones or community, you could definitely find him in his own garden or yard. These values ​​show why so many viewers appreciated his role on the show. He was down to earth, gave great advice and never pretended to be anyone else. He was approachable and gave friends and viewers alike the confidence to tackle their own home projects, even if they were probably on a smaller scale.

Roger and his wife Kathy went to high school together, but they didn’t start dating until after they graduated. They truly made a great team. They both owned businesses and raised their children in the same community they grew up in, working hard to instill good values ​​and work ethic in them. In every situation, they continued to bring out the best in each other and the people around them. As a father, Roger wanted to give his children every opportunity, encouraged them to follow their passions, and constantly reminded them to put family first when life presented difficult decisions. He was incredibly proud to become “Dad” and adored his three grandchildren. The last few years were more difficult for Roger as he struggled with the effects of his illness. He was a very proud man and did his best to keep his day-to-day life and that of his family as normal as possible. He never wanted to be a burden to others, only to help them. In the end, his children, daughter-in-law, extended family, friends and caregivers rallied around him to give him the love and dignity he deserved in his final years. Roger was a very special man and that was ultimately not because of his accomplishments, but rather because of the way he lived his life and the devotion he showed to his family and loved ones.

Roger is survived by his two beloved children, Jason Roger Cook and wife Anna of Boston and Molly E. Cook of Medford; his three grandchildren, Peter, Noah and James; his brother Greg A. Cook and wife Jill of Thousand Oaks, CA; his brothers-in-law John Gulde Jr. and wife Kathleen of Chelmsford, Cheryl Hansen and husband Robert of Mashpee, Carol Cammon and husband Fred of Winchester, Mary Biagiotti and husband Richard of Burlington and many other dear nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Roger was a son-in-law of the late John and Kathleen “Kay” Gulde.

Visiting hours will be Tuesday, August 27th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington. At the request of the family, all other services will be private.

As a sign of your condolences, in lieu of flowers, please plant a tree in your community to honor Roger’s lifelong commitment to the environment.

The local obituary will be published through Legacy.com and Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home. Would you like to have a loved one’s obituary published on Boston.com? Send your obituary hereor by email to (email protected).