Travis Hayden Cook

Travis Hayden Cook, 28, of Madison, WI, passed away surrounded by his close family on March 2, 2018, after a long battle with brain cancer. He survived almost five years with a highly aggressive rare adult brain tumor, enduring multiple surgeries, radiation therapy treatments, chemotherapy, and investigational immunotherapy. He tried every possible arrow in the quiver of tools and never gave up even when there were no arrows left. Although he knew the survival rate for this type of tumor was not good, Travis continually defied the odds until the odds beat him. His cancer never defined his life or dampened Travis’ kind soul and spirit.  The son of Joel Cook and Deborah Smith Cook, Travis was born on June 7, 1989, in Falls Church, VA. Travis attended Robert E. Lee High School, graduating as a co-Valedictorian, and then earned his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from the University of Virginia. He worked as a software developer for Agilex, Epic, and most recently American Family Insurance. He married Terry Cook (née Lind) on November 11, 2017 at a ceremony at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Middleton, WI, where family and friends witnessed this testament to his courage.  Travis will be remembered for his extraordinary spirit and infectious optimism. His smile made a room brighter and he was never afraid to laugh at himself or make a goofy comment or joke. He went out of his way to make others feel welcome and always wanted to help those less fortunate than him. Over the course of his life, he played the saxophone, piano, and tuba, playing in the marching band in high school and at UVA. Travis could often be seen sprinting across the practice field while wearing a sousaphone, exemplifying his enthusiasm and passion for music. He also loved video games and found creative ways to show that love. Travis wrote a cooking blog based on the Tales of video game series, creating original recipes inspired by the recipes found in the games. He was featured several times at Aselia Con, a convention dedicated to fans of the series, where he did live cooking demos and spoke with fans. Travis loved to fence and to dance, traveling with the Virginia Fencing Club while at UVA and learning ballroom dance at Fred Astaire Madison East. He touched the lives of so many with his kindness.  In addition to his parents and wife, Travis is survived by his younger brother and sister-in-law, Hunter and Gabrielle Cook of Madison, WI. He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Hayden Smith and Wanda Deur of Michigan, as well as Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Al Van Hemert of Fremont, MI; Uncle Greg and Aunt Cindy Smith of Grand Rapids, MI; Uncle Jim and Aunt Sara Cook of Grand Prairie, TX; and Uncle Jim and Aunt Jackie Hall of Owasso, OK.  He is also mourned by his mother-in- law, Nancy Nelson; his sister-in-law, Wendy Nelson; and his sister-in- law, Dayna (John) Grogan and her family. He was preceded in death by Gran (Amanda Ruth Cook), Grandpa (Millard Cook), and Aunt Joyce Hall. Also left to cherish his memory are numerous special cousins and friends, too many to list here.   The family would like to thank the numerous talented doctors and nurses who so lovingly cared for Travis throughout this battle. Of particular importance were Doctors Al Lozier, Amit Sanyal, and Michelle Mackay of SSM Dean in Madison, WI, and their great staff: Robin, Beverly, Connie to name just a few; Dr. Steve Howard of the Carbone Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin; and Dr. Brett Theeler of the National Cancer Institute. His team shared Travis's fighting spirit in the battle against his tumor and were loving supporters to our entire family as we made this journey.  The family would also like to thank Travis’ Team 6 and Wave One and other friends at American Family Insurance for their unprecedented support. He loved working with them and worked until the very end.  They carry on his tradition of ending their stand ups with Travis’ adjective days – “ have a marvellous Monday” or “have a terrific Tuesday.”  The family will receive visitors at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Middleton, WI on March 10, 2018 at 1pm. A memorial service will be held at 2:30pm. If possible, wear something orange – Travis’ favorite color! The family will host a reception with cookies, donuts, and coffee for all who knew and loved Travis after the service in Friendship Hall at the church. Donations may be made in honor of Travis to the Collaboration for Ependymoma Research (CERN). https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/982785.