Alta Cooke

Alta Cooke, 87, born on November 17, 1936, in Long Beach, CA, United States, passed away July 27, 2024. She resided in Long Beach, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Long Beach, CA.

Once in a lifetime, a special person touches your life and makes a lasting impression on those around her and in her community. Alta was just that special lady to her family and to those in the community of Long Beach. Her quiet, firm, wisdom and guidance will be missed by all who have had the good fortune of being touched and guided by her. She truly was the first lady of education in Long Beach, where she was a pioneer in leadership roles, staff development, counseling, and her most favorite of all, teaching students. She was an accomplished musician as well as an excellent teacher, principal, mother, grandmother, and role model for all. 

 She was the only daughter born to George and Mae Mack in Long Beach in 1936. Alta has two brothers, George Mack - who passed away in 1999 and her oldest brother, Victor Mack who is 97 years young!

Alta truly was a Long Beach legend. Along with her mother, they were early contributors to the historical and cultural development of the City of Long Beach. She graduated with honors from Long Beach Poly High School, went on to the University of Redlands where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Music and her master's degree in Education from USC. 

The “Sound of Music” performance was the beginning of Alta's teaching career, instructing vocal music at Franklin Middle School, from 1959 to 1967. She then became a counselor at Franklin, and in 1971, she became the assistant principal at Stevens Middle School. She was also the assistant principal at Wilson High School in Long Beach until 1980. Alta's career in the Long Beach Unified School District has been marked by appreciative recognition and promotion of her outstanding leadership. In 1980, she was promoted to principal of Hill Middle School and in 1987, she became the first African American high school principal in the district when she was appointed principal at Long Beach Jordan High School, a position she held for 7 years. Her many accomplishments there included making Jordan High School a magnet school, generating numerous grants, and restructuring the school around the quest for excellence. Again, her efforts were recognized in 1994. She was appointed District Director of Attendance Services for the Board of Education. While making all these contributions in education, Alta also participated in the community and shared her musical talents with local churches. One of them being Grant AME Church in Long Beach. 

The community spirit of commitment was recognized numerous times over the years. She was recognized as the Los Altos YMCA “Woman of the Year” in 1989. She was also Grand Marshall of the Martin Luther King parade in 1994, president of Soroptimist International in 1985, and received many education awards and community recognition for her lifetime dedication to educating students. In the community, Alta touched the lives of others through her involvement in the Junior League of Long Beach, the Black American Political Action Committee, the Red Cross, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. These just touch a few of her diverse commitments. She's created a family of supporters and loved ones over her 87 years of life. 

 Alta’s most cherished accomplishment was creating and supporting her own family who receives double portions of her love and respect in their careers and personal lives. She stressed the importance of obtaining a college education to her two daughters from an early age. Both Allyson and Stacey would agree that they knew they had to attend college and when one of her daughters (Stacey) decided to act up in the 11th grade, she quickly transferred her to Long Beach Jordan High school for her senior year where she was the principal, in order to keep an eye on her and make sure she graduated. 

Alta is survived by her two cherished daughters, Allyson Gideon (William) and Stacey Cooke; her grandchildren, Jazarae Cooke, Aaron Henderson, Devon Henderson, Cruz Barrios, Riley Barrios, and William Ande Gideon; and her great-grandchildren, Zoe Henderson, Etzli Esqueda and Nia Henderson. Although she will be greatly missed, her family will continue to be rewarded by her gift of caring and giving. 

Her leadership has been a role model for all who will take her legacy and make even greater contributions to the community. We'll miss you, Alta.