Margaret “Peg” Richardson-Cook, 86, of Vero Beach, passed away on Nov. 28, 2014, peacefully in her home at Regency Park in Vero Beach.
She is survived by her three sons Scott (Gail) Richardson, Gary Richardson, Mark (Yancey) Richardson; her grandchildren Eric Richardson and Grace Richardson; and brother Van Langley (Patricia).
She was preceded in death by her second husband, “Saint” John Cook and her parents Dean and Kenneth Langley.
A resident of Vero Beach since 1969, Richardson-Cook was loved both locally and abroad as a compassionate spiritual teacher, actress, travel adventurer, talk show host, voracious reader, gourmet cook, painter, social activist and loving mother.
Born in Manhasset, N.Y. in 1928, she moved to New York City in her teens where she pursued a successful career in modeling and theater. At 17 she landed the lead role in the Broadway play, “A Young Man’s Fancy,” and went on to perform in numerous Broadway shows to which she earned rave reviews and Hollywood screen-test offers.
She became the first woman to host her own celebrity-themed radio talk show in the late 1940s in Houston, Texas. In 1950, she married Panagra Airline Captain, “Rich” Richardson at the American Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina and lived in Lima, Peru for several years before moving to Florida.
A pioneer in Vero Beach real estate, Richardson-Cook opened her own agency in 1970. Later, she took pleasure in her travel agency career that found her jumping out of helicopters in the Canadian glaciers and floating over the French wine country in hot air balloons. Her passion for travel would eventually cover five continents where she visited more than 20 countries.
Deeply religious, Richardson-Cook was active in several churches where she taught bible studies for nearly 20 years and enjoyed a close, life-long friendship with Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth. A proud and unapologetic “liberal,” she was a vociferous advocate for minority, religious and women’s rights. In the 1990s she completed her studies to become a deacon for the Episcopal Church.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 475 43rd Ave., Vero Beach. A reception after the service will be held at Regency Park, 910 Regency Square, Vero Beach. For those wishing to send flowers, please direct them to the church for the service or in lieu of flowers Peg’s wishes were for any donations to be made to St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church. An online guestbook is available at strunkfuneralhome.com.
