It is not lost on me the profound impact Al had on me.  In fact at my mother-in-law’s 90 th birthday celebration last night with 13 of us sitting around “discussing” and attempting to hear and listen… I chimed in at the end of a series of typical dysfunctional family dynamics with a theory Al coined for Class 36… the “I need you to be, the way I need you to be” theory… so that I don’t have to chance. My sister in law thanked me for summing up the conversation and I credited Al. And I was just happy the conversation ended. Again,thank you Al for everything especially being there with me again last night. 

Although many people knew Al Cooke as a brilliant OD Practitioner 
and his role for many years as Director of the AU/NTL Program; I knew him in another unique and special way.

During my days as a student in the OD program Class 23, I would frequently take time to sit down with Al to discuss construction projects. He loved talking about building construction and renovation.  He and I shared a passion for this and would enjoy speaking about individual projects we were working on,
mostly to our homes but also outside projects for others. 

During these “construction” encounters, Al and I would inevitably get side tracked and find some odd way to connect our building projects to OD theory.  I’m not even sure I remember how this happened but it did and these discussions were deep and intense.

Now looking back, these discussions were a gift from Al to me. A personal gift from a brilliant gentleman with a kind heart and a special sensitive soul.  He found ways to connect that only Al Cooke could have imagined. 

I was lucky to become part of Al’s Magical journey through our discussions together. 

i will remember my friend Al now in his sacred place in heaven and all his special unique personal characteristics. 

May his memory be a blessing for all to remember. 

What a special wonderful guy !!!!