The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art joins the family of Thornton Cooke II in grieving the loss of our beloved friend and former trustee, who died on February 26, 2019. His service to the museum was beyond measure.

Mr. Cooke was a Kansas City native, a graduate of the University of Kansas, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and founder of First American Insurance Company. He was a generous philanthropist throughout the Kansas City community, and he served on the Nelson-Atkins Board of Trustees from 1989 to 2011.

Mr. Cooke was instrumental in the museum’s first strategic planning process. The Nelson-Atkins is stronger as a result of his years of dedication.

Image: Thornton Cooke with his wife, Joni.