James W. Cook ’62

Jim died Oct. 14, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Mich., from Parkinson’s disease.

He grew up in West Virginia and came to us from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., majored in chemical engineering, and dined at Quadrangle Club. In his senior year Jim lived in the Taj Mahal suite with seven roommates who kept in touch with each other throughout their lives. He later earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Penn State.

In his diverse and distinguished career, Jim was a leader in the energy industry in New York, Boston, and above all for Consumers Energy and CMS Energy in Michigan. He contributed to the design and development of multiple types of power plants all over the world, as well as alternative energy projects.

Retiring in 2002, Jim redirected his energies to community service in Ann Arbor, his home since 1990. He became a mentor for a younger colleague who has developed projects around the world at the forefront of alternative energy.

Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years, Constance; son Jay and his wife Rita Chin; daughter Amy and her husband Mike Glass; and six grandchildren.