Michael Joseph Cooke

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.

Mike was born in Glendale in 1948, to John and Ona Cooke. His parents divorced when Mike was nine years old, and Mike never saw his father again. Raised by his wonderful mother Ona, the daughter of a Mennonite preacher, she passed along her strong moral compass and adventurous spirit to Michael. Mike was on his own after high school, as Ona moved to Turkey and then to England for twelve years working as a teacher. They happily reconnected when Ona retired and moved to Santa Barbara in the 80’s.

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 after going through the Marine Tech program at Santa Barbara City College, 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.

Mike became a father to Tiare (Loch) Doss in Tahiti. Mike and Tiare were very close, spending holidays and summer vacations with Kim, Mike and Ona. Mike was a fun and goofy father . . . like waiting for 7 year old Tiare in the Santa Barbara Airport dressed in costume just to see if Tiare could find him!

Mike and Kim met through mutual friends in 1987. The treasure diving boat captain and the vice president of a bank didn’t hit it off initially, but when they later bumped into each other at the wedding of these friends, sparks flew. They decided to tie the knot on a surfing vacation in New Zealand in 1991, and the adventures continued!

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 Kim, exploring surf spots in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, South Africa, El Salvador, Bali, Barbados, Hawaii, to mention a few. He often remarked that his (non-surfing) wife had been to more surf spots than most of his 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, grandchildren Travis, Matthew and Eve, the Smith family (Don, Michele, Erin Smith-Jadhav, 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.