Remembering Dr. Norman Cook - Multnomah University's Tribute

Dr. Norman (Norm) Cook entered heaven on Monday, June 20, 2022. He was 93 years old. He joins his wife Muriel, who passed in June 2019.

Norm earned his graduate certificate from Multnomah School of the Bible in 1960. During his time as a student, he also coached the basketball team. After Norm completed his studies at Multnomah, he returned to Taiwan to serve as a missionary with Overseas Crusades (now One Challenge). Altogether, Norm and his wife Muriel spent 30 years ministering in Taiwan.

In September 1980, Norm and Muriel were the speakers for the school’s Christian Life Conference. There, President Joe Aldrich recruited Norm to join the faculty as Chair of the Missions Department, starting in the fall of 1981. Norm continued to teach until his retirement in 2004.Aside from the Lord and his family, Norm’s passion was for the game of basketball. Early in life, Norm offered to lay down the game to serve God. But instead, God used Norm’s love of basketball to minister to thousands. With Overseas Crusades, Norm played on a basketball team that used the game as a tool to spread the gospel throughout Asia. Norm and his teammates were highlighted in the 1962 Christian movie, Venture for Victory. After coming to Multnomah, Norm continued to play basketball, often teaming up with academic dean Dr. Garry Friesen to take on students.

With the help of Dr. Friesen, Norm hatched the idea for a mission endowment to help fund the overseas ministry of students and faculty. The Norm & Muriel Cook Missions Endowment was established in 1999 through the generosity of countless alumni, staff and faculty members, and longtime supporters of both the Cooks and Multnomah. Today, the Cook endowment has grown to more than $160,000 and continues to fund overseas ministry within the Multnomah family. In the past five years alone, roughly 85 students and staff have received financial awards to help fund their overseas mission work.

The impact and legacy of Norm and Muriel Cook continue to be felt and lived out by the countless Multnomah alumni who they taught, mentored, counseled, and inspired. Norm’s compassion will be felt on Multnomah’s campus long after his passing.