Join us in celebrating the life of Timothy Colin McCook. When you pick up a book, even one online, think of Tim, who was a father, a husband, a lawyer, a foodie, and dedicated to the search of a more perfect union in the United States.  We were blessed with his presence until he passed away on April 25, 2025 from complications from Devic’s Syndrome, a rare auto-immune disease. His legacy is his wife Judy Miller McCook, his daughter Zoë McCook Ciucevich, and devoted friends from all over the country.

Tim was born on December 8, 1964, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, to John and Mary McCook, and was the youngest of three.  He was smart, caring, and funny.  Tim was the guy you should think of when discussing classic American politics and governance. He was a huge political junkie who would, even in the age of computer spreadsheets, sit before the television with a carefully assembled list of candidates, written in pencil on lined note paper, and accompanied by a map of electoral districts that he would color in as each district was called—tracking with equal passion U.S. elections, or British or French parliamentary elections, or whatever other contest caught his fancy. 

When vexed, rather than count to ten, he would recite the American presidents in order.  He could similarly recite the names of American vice-presidents backwards unaided but would not do so when angry.  A life-long political enthusiast, he could happily talk shop with a Republican or Democratic political junkie.  This was consistent with that fact that one of his favorite books was Allen Drury’s “Advise and Consent,” a story of a bare-knuckle political fight that was still conducted with civility, despite their differences. His massive political campaign button collection was from all stripes and decades. The candidates and elected officials for whom he worked had modest origin stories and were dedicated to public service.

Tim governed as well, leading his high school classmates at St. Joseph’s Prep as Student Government President, beating a more popular student in a come-from-behind win. Later, at Catholic University of America, he was elected as the student government treasurer, a recognition of his precise nature and his fellow students’ confidence that he would ensure student activities fees were used properly.

His was a serious intellect. He graduated in the tops of his classes at Catholic for his undergraduate degree in World Politics, and his law degree. As an undergraduate, Tim was the one you went to for the class notes; his were immaculate. If you did borrow them, the price you paid was singing Tom Lehrer ditties with him, but not the Elements song, because not even he could remember the words for that.

His life-long love of learning was clear in his home, the quietest place in Washington, DC, where he and Judy began their family surrounded by bulging bookcases. Always a voracious reader, Tim used his skills as an archivist at Catholic, maintaining the important historical documents and artifacts so that the past would not be forgotten.

He brought a love of food—shown by his cookbook collection—to his job at the Snack Food Association, where he worked as an events manager and public affairs associate. Their annual trade show, SNAXPO, was never the same when he left.

In his legal career, he focused on his “old friends,” as he called them, elderly clients in need of a reliable trusts and estates advisor.  With his calm, open demeanor, he could ask the hard questions with ease and gently guide clients through the difficult process of making their final wishes clear to their loved ones.

Tim was a success by any measure but mostly by the friends he made along the way. He would often quote his mentor, George Herbert Walker Bush, saying, “It’s good to have friends.” He also liked a similar quote in a favorite movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” that no man is failure who has friends.  Tim’s volunteer time was people-focused, too. At Catholic. he raised thousands of dollars for DC-area charities, managing an annual dance marathon fueled mostly by Coca-Cola.  Likewise, his undergraduate internship was at the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There was also the occasional walk in the DC St. Patrick’s Day parade as a salute to his immigrant grandparents.

In his honor, please join people everywhere and enjoy a fountain Coca-Cola April 25 at 3:00 pm; Tim’s all-time favorite beverage.   We love you and were blessed to be near you, TMC.

Please join us in celebrating Timothy C. McCook on May 1, 2025.  A Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, in Savannah, Georgia.

Following the Visitation, the Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 a.m., with Fr. Gabe Cummings presiding.  The burial will be held in Greenwich Cemetery.