Nancy Wilson Cook (May 11, 1936 – March 23, 2026) was an American politician who served in the Delaware Senate for the 15th district from 1974 to 2010, as a member of the Democratic Party.[1] She was elected to the seat in a special election after her husband, Allen Cook, died while in office.[1][2][3]
Cook was born on May 11, 1936 in Philadelphia, and attended William Penn High School and the University of Delaware.[4][5] She was a resident in Kenton, Delaware and a member of the Kent County, Delaware Democratic Committee.[5][6] In 2010, Cook ran for reelection and lost to David G. Lawson, flipping the seat from Democratic to Republican.[1][2] In 2011, Cook was appointed by Governor Jack Markell to the open Kent County Register of Wills position until the following election in 2012.[1]
Cook died on March 23, 2026, at the age of 89.[7][8]
References
- ^ a b c d “Longtime Delaware lawmaker to serve as Kent Co. Register of Wills”. WHYY. October 21, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ a b Denison, Doug (November 8, 2010). “Newsmaker Q&A: Former state senator Nancy Cook”. Delaware Today. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ Cohen, Celia (March 19, 2015). “LONG TIME PASSING”. Delaware Grapevine. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ “Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3”. U.S. Government Publishing Office. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ a b State Manual Containing Official List of State Officers, Boards and Commissions, and County Officers. Delaware Secretary of State. 1973 – via Google Books.
- ^ “Nancy W. Cook”. Center for American Women and Politics. Rutgers University. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ Cupelli, Kaitlyn (March 23, 2026). “Nancy Cook, Delaware General Assembly’s longest-serving woman, dies at 89”. Bay to Bay News. Dover, Delaware. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ “Flags lowered to half-staff in Delaware in honor of late politician”. Delaware Online. March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.