WATCH: USMC Korean War Veteran Richard Andrew Cook Interred at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery With Full Military Honors

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WATCH: United States Marine Corps veteran Richard Andrew Crook received Full Military Honors during internment at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery on September 23. Crook died on July 28, 2024, and was a life member of the VFW Post 8191 and life member and charter member of All American Veterans of Brevard County, American Legion Post 420 in Suntree. The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson provided coverage live from Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.

United States Marine Corps veteran Richard Andrew Crook received Full Military Honors during internment at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery on September 23. Crook died on July 28, 2024, and was a life member of the VFW Post 8191 and life member and charter member of All American Veterans of Brevard County, American Legion Post 420 in Suntree. The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson provided coverage live from Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of our beloved father and beloved friend, Richard “Richie.” He passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at Viera Hospital after fiercely battling a brief illness.

Richie was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1951, one month after graduation from Forest Hills High School and served with honor in the Korean War.

Upon discharge Rich worked a variety of jobs as a young man, including bell-hop at the Park- Sheridan Hotel in Manhattan. He shared so many wonderful, very colorful, stories of all the celebrities he met there and what life was like in the mid 50’s and early 60’s in New York City.

He later married the late Agnes (Kennedy) Crook, and they had three children, Richard, Cathleen and John and they settled into life in Williston Park, Long Island, NY.

He worked as an air traffic controller, telecommunications at the New York Telephone Company before settling into his last (and favorite) job as freight conductor with the Long Island Rail Road. He retired from the LIRR in September 1993.

Not one to stand still, he later became a school crossing guard for three years for the Melbourne Police Department.

He was a life member of VFW Post 8191 and life member and charter member of All American Veterans of Brevard County, American Legion Post 420, Suntree, Florida.

Richie was a man of many talents, a larger-than-life persona that can never be captured in a few paragraphs of print. He loved to hunt during deer season by Hunter Mountain, NY with all his buddies and recount all the adventures (and misadventures he shared with them).

He had a boat in earlier years and enjoyed fishing, even going to the Sea of Cortez to fish.

Richie became a stage actor which was a perfect fit for his outgoing personality. He starred in over 50 plays ranging from the Hofstra University Theater in New York to the Surfside Theater in Cocoa Beach, FL and the Melbourne Civic Theater in Melbourne, FL.

Richie competed several times in the Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest in Key West.

He took up golfing at age 50 and enjoyed it immensely, going on golf outings with friends, three or four times a week.

Richie was the ultimate sports aficionado, rooting for the NY Mets, the NY Giants and the Islanders. He loved attending the baseball spring training in Viera.

He enjoyed cruising and even won the sexiest man alive on two different cruises. Richie was an avid reader and history buff who should have taught history, no textbooks would have been required.

Richie enjoyed singing karaoke and had quite the good voice. He loved happy hours on the back porch of their home with his love, Rose, and sipping on a good single malt scotch.

Richie would often say, “forgive quickly, that was yesterday, today is a new day. Live your life and enjoy each moment”

Years ago when asked what he wanted on this tombstone his reply was “At least I wasn’t dull.” No, our dearest Richie and “Pop” you were certainly far, far from that. You were the most remarkable person that we all were blessed to have known and loved. You will never be forgotten.

He leaves to forever cherish his memory, his best friend and love of 18 years, Rosemarie Yeary  of Melbourne, FL. His beloved children, Richard C. Crook (Karen), Lindenhurst NY, Cathleen Barthel (Matthew) of Rockville Centre, NY and John C. Crook of Williston Park N.Y., three grandchildren, Ricky and Megan Crook and Owen Barthel, a host of nieces and nephews and many, many loved friends.

A celebration of our beloved Marine’s life was held on Saturday, September 21st, 2024 at VFW Post 8191 in Melbourne. Military honors and interment took place on Monday, September 23 at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims.

“SEMPER FIDELIS”

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