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18 t m c » p u l s e | f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9 Each structure differs vastly in architectural style and interior aesthetics, but all were designed by Denton A. Cooley. Many of the furnishings of House No. 4 are originally from the historic Hotel Galvez in Galveston, one of the surgeon's many business ventures. That house was also featured in Architectural Digest. A former patient was so inspired by the home, he painted a rendering for Cooley. "He was a very famous Russian artist and he wanted to paint a picture of the ranch, so he came out, drew it and then took it back to Russia," Susan Cooley said. "He shipped back this painting of Cool Acres in the snow. It doesn't snow out here, but we still kept it." At the moment, each of the homes on the property is filled with letters, mementos and photographs of Cooley family members with everyone from trauma surgeon James "Red" Duke Jr., M.D., the founder of Memorial Hermann Life Flight, to Princess Anne, the British royal and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. "Going through their stuff, there are so many questions," Susan Cooley said. "You know, why were we in Italy with Bing Crosby? Why were we visiting the Pope at his summer palace?" Her eldest sister, Mary Cooley Craddock, explained why the family was in Italy that summer. "A very generous patient from Florence arranged the whole thing because Dad really wanted to get the Pope's blessing about the heart transplant," Craddock said. "He did give Dad his blessing." More than two years after the passing of their parents, the sisters are eager for another family to make memories at Cool Acres. "My parents were always here," Susan Cooley said. "I don't even know what it's like being here without them." Cooley prepares to pitch at the annual picnic's softball game. (All picnic photos courtesy of Susan Cooley.) My father worked seven days a week. He worked Saturdays until 2 p.m. and then had to be back on Sunday afternoon. He would come home after Grand Rounds on Saturday, honk the horn and we would all jump in the car with my mother, the fried chicken and as many friends as we could pile in, and go out to what we would call 'the farm.' — SUSAN COOLEY, PH.D. Daughter of Denton A. Cooley, M.D.