Grafflin Cook III

Grafflin Cook III, banker, outdoorsmen, and traveler dies By: Jacques Kelly of the Baltimore Sun jkelly@baltsun.com Grafflin Cook III, a retired bank trust officer and hunter, died of pneumonia Dec. 19 at his Homeland residence. He was 87. Born in Baltimore and raised in Homeland, he was the son of Grafflin Cook Jr. and Brooke Sanner Cook. He attended St. Paul's School for Boys and was a graduate of Avon Old Farms in CT. He was also a Guilford College graduate. He joined Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. and became a trust officer. "My father was devoted to Mercantile for many years where he managed accounts in the United States as well as internationally," said his daughter, Mallory C. Earp. "He was loyal, trustworthy and made his customers comfortable. He made people laugh." Mr. Cook played doubles tennis at L’Hirondelle Club of Ruxton, golf at Elkridge Club, and hunted in Monkton. He was also a traveler and spent time in the Caribbean on Pine Cay, Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and Lake Kezar in Maine. “My father always had his camera in hand," said his daughter. "He captured historic sites, and the beauty of the natural world.” A friend, Jack McWilliams, said, "Grafflin was a person who was larger than life, and someone who always made you laugh. We traveled together, fished and hunted together, snorkeled together, boated together, and had our 5 p.m. beers at Ebeneezer's. "In Scotland he climbed over a fence so he could walk on Swilcan Bridge at the Saint Andrews golf course," said Mr. McWilliams. "He'd also be swimming with JoJo the dolphin in Pine Cay.... He considered us like the [comedians] Laurel and Hardy, never deciding who was who.” Mike DuLaney, another friend, said, “Grafflin, whom we affectionately referred to as Cookie, joined Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Company in the late 1960s. He was well respected by his peers and clients for his intelligence and professionalism. He was continually upbeat and a pleasure to work with. He was always walking around with a smile and you could tell when Cookie was on the floor by the laughter following him around." Visitation will be held at Mitchell-Wiedefeld funeral home Friday, January 16th from 2-4 and 6-8 on York Road in Rodgers Forge. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at the chapel of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Carolyn Schmeiser Cook; two daughters: Muffie C. Cummons, of Baltimore and Mallory C. Earp, of Sparks; a brother, Mallory Brooke Cook, of Riderwood; and five grandchildren.

Grafflin Cook III

December 26, 1938 - December 19, 2025