Peter Cooke's awards and memorabilia room at the Starlight Barber Shop looks no different today than it did when he left it for the final time.
The sports-minded volunteer, player, coach and entrepreneur died unexpectedly on April 2 after a sudden illness. In addition to leaving a huge hole in the lives of his wife, children and grandchildren, friends and family, members of the basketball and golf communities and his many clients at the Starlight Barber Shop are mourning his passing.
Cooke owned and operated The Starlight Barber Shop since 1971 and inspired great loyalty in his employees. Cindy MacPherson was hired in 1979. With one or two exceptions, she said that once hired, people stuck with Cooke.
He also built up a large and healthy business over the years, and many clients are still struggling to cope with Cooke's sudden absence.
"One man said he came up to the door four times (since Peter's death) but couldn't make himself come in," MacPherson said. "It took him five times before he could do it."
After some soul-searching and speaking with Cooke's family, MacPherson decided to take over the shop effective Aug. 1.
"The whole 32 years I've been there, if I'd ever say ‘Peter, I can't do it,' he'd say ‘Yes, you can, Cindy, it's not that hard,'" MacPherson said. "He's probably up there laughing at me saying ‘it's not that hard.' We all miss him so much."
An awards and memorabilia room at the back of the shop remains virtually the same as it did the day Cooke left for the last time, and MacPherson plans to turn it into a memorial.
"I said to his daughters that I can't let it go, I haven't accepted yet that he's gone," she said. "I'm trying to get a hold of all his clients. We want people to know that room will be in his memory. The Starlight will live on."
Jim Wigglesworth was Cooke's friend and a long time Starlight client. He described Cooke as an all around nice guy who loved sports and devoted a lot of energy into the well being of his grandchildren. Wigglesworth and Cooke played basketball together in a masters league at Westmount for more than 30 years. He said it was only fitting that a plaque with Cooke's photo was erected at Westmount in May in his honour.
Another former client who also coached alongside Cooke for many years, Murray MacMillan described his friend as a mentor and a very understanding coach who was competitive but never harsh. He admired the way Cooke always found nice things to say about everyone he met. After Cooke's sudden death, the future of their Thursday night gentlemen's league games was up in the air.
"Peter organized the whole thing, he was behind it," MacMillan recalled. "We got together one night and said Peter would have wanted us to keep playing. So we did."
Cooke volunteered his time when the world hockey championships came to Halifax in 2008, organizing activities and tours for the Norwegian team. MacMillan said Cooke really revelled in that experience.
Cooke's obituary noted his extracurricular and volunteer activities were too numerous to list. But next to his family, basketball and golf were described as his biggest passions.
In addition to playing basketball in masters and executive leagues, Cooke coached children through to adults and held executive posts on various associations. His most recent post was as president of the Nova Scotia Golf Association.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
