Michael Joseph Cooke
1948-2026
Michael Joseph Cooke (78) sailed off into the sunset on September 1, 2026, passing the way he would have wanted…quick and at night. A cross between Indiana Jones and McGiver, Mike packed more into a lifetime than most.
He was born in Glendale in 1948, and after graduating from Burroughs High School in Burbank and Maunaolu Junior College in Maui, he served in the Army as an MP during the Vietnam War.
Following his discharge from the Army in 1970, his adventures commenced, a few highlights of which were his digging himself out of a Mexican prison with a butter knife (see the National Geographic prison break video at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2886712/), becoming a deep sea SAT diver in the North Sea, building a 42 ft sailboat (“Full Circle”) and sailing it to Tahiti, being dismasted in Tahiti by a freighter (causing him to stay in Tahiti for 18 months to repair the boat, tough duty), becoming the captain of a treasure diving boat in Ecuador and also the boat captain for Oceaneering International in Santa Barbara for 10 years.
After semi-retiring, Mike went on to woodworking and handyman. He could fix anything and build most things. He invented Off the Wall ironing boards, which were shaped like a surfboard and attached to the wall, and Walk on Water shoes, pontoon-like devices to wear on your feet to walk across a body of water, only to discover that Leonardo Da Vinci did it long before him.
He was an avid surfer, and traveled the world with his wife, Kim, exploring surf spots in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, South Africa, El Salvador, Bali, Barbados, and Hawaii, to mention a few, He often remarked that his (non-surfing) wife had been to more surf spots than his surfer friends!
An active guy, Mike also enjoyed yoga and biking . . .he could often be seen riding his bike with his westie riding behind in a homemade “Chariot of the Dogs” trailer, or riding his electric skateboard with the dog gleefully riding on the board with him.
Mike had a deep relationship with music, playing piano, bagpipes, trumpet, accordion and French horn. He would say there’s a song for everything, often singing a line from a song that was appropriate to the moment. He especially enjoyed playing music with others and delighted playing with his buddies in a band they dubbed ‘The Patheticos’!
He loved to read and share stories, try the newest technical gadgets and natural psychedelics, and share his knowledge with people truly interested in learning.
Mike was a straight shooter who didn’t mince words. You never had to wonder what he thought about something, an opinion he often delivered with a wicked sense of humor. Who else would call a next door neighbor at work and sing a country western song he had just composed on the subject of suicide?
Mike made the most of his time on earth . . As he would say, “sooner!!”
Mike is survived by his wife of 35 years, Kim, daughter Tiare Doss(husband Brandon), grandchildren Travis, Matthew and Eve, the Smith family (Don, Michele, Erin and Tanner), cousin Joan (husband Craig) Williams and their children and grandchildren, lots of friends that feel like family, and their dog Maisie.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later time.
