Donald W. Cook

HUDSON: Donald W. Cook, III., 53, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Born in Natick, MA on March 8, 1971, to Elaine J. (Prince) and the late Donald W. Cook, Jr., Donald lived in Weston and Marlborough before settling in Hudson in 2009, where he resided for the past 16 years. Donald leaves behind his wife, Vanessa T. (Silva) Cook; his mother Elaine J. Cook and her husband Peter Wood; his two brothers Tyler A. Cook and his wife, Rebecca, and Kristopher J. Cook and his wife, Nicole; and his sister Tiffany J. Polny and her husband, Christopher. He is also survived by 14 nieces and nephews, as well as uncles and aunts.

Don graduated from Weston High School in 1990, where he captained the football and wrestling teams. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and spent over 10 years as a devoted teacher at the Collaborative for Education Services, where he taught at UMass in Worcester, MA. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching sports and was a Dallas Cowboy fan at heart. Don was also an avid reader and an artist. Above all, he cherished spending time with his family and beloved pets Jersey, Pablo and Slinky.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 10 am at St. Matthews Catholic Church, 26 Highland Street, Southborough, MA 01772. A private burial service will be held following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, Don’s family asks that donations be made in his memory to the Pan Mass Challenge.