Thomas D. Cook

Dr. Thomas D. Cook, age 95, of New Smyrna Beach died Friday, November 21 after a short illness. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Dr. Cook, the first board certified surgeon in New Smyrna Beach, came to this area in 1957 to open his 30 year medical practice in general surgery. During this career, he served as chief of staff and chief of surgery at Fish Memorial Hospital, now known as Bert Fish Medical Center. A magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylva
nia, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Yale University of Medicine and interned at Boston City Hospital. Dr. Cook then served residencies in surgery at The Memorial Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts, in pathology at Cushing VA Hospital, Framington, Massachusetts, and surgery at Charity Hospital, New Orleans, where he later become senior surgeon. He was also instructor of surgery at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. His medical affiliations included Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery; Fellow of the American College of Sturgeons; member of the American Medical Association, Florida State Medical Society, Volusia County Medical Society, where he was past president, Florida Association of General Surgeons, and Fellow of Southeastern Surgical Congress. In every area of the country, certain surgeons are designated as qualified to treat the President of the United States. Dr. Cook belonged to that elite group. He also served twice in the U. S. Army, including a tour of duty in World War II, attaining the rank of major. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Cook was very active in numerous civic activities. These included president of the board of trustees at the First Presbyterian Church of New Smyrna Beach; president of the New Smyrna Beach Chamber of Commerce; director of the New Smyrna Beach Lions Club; director of the East Volusia-Flagler County Chapter of the American Red Cross; director of the Volusia County Chapter of the American Cancer Society; advocate for Halifax Health Hospice Southeast Volusia Care Center in Edgewater; co-chairman of the Committee for Better Schools of New Smyrna Beach; member, past governor and past fleet surgeon of Smyrna Yacht Club; member of the Anglers Yacht Club, where recently he drew a royal flush while playing poker; city commissioner of New Smyrna Beach; district campaign director for Congressman Bill Chappell; and charter PTA president for the Coronado Elementary School, which he was instrumental in getting built and where his children attended. Awards received included: Jaycees Distinguished Service Award for 1966-1967; Man of the Week by the Orlando Sentinel in 1964; Who's Who in the South and Southwest in 1971-1972; and Governor's Award, Florida's Progress in Tourist Promotion 1963. His proudest civic achievement, however, was his integral involvement in establishing the Canaveral National Seashore. An outdoors man, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. Preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Mo, he is survived by three sons, Paul Thomas (Violet) Cook of Sioux City, Iowa, Mark Lewis (Elizabeth) Cook of New Smyrna Beach; Evan Evans (Julie) Cook of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; a daughter, Mary Ann (Dean) Hewitt of Longwood, Florida; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A celebration of the lives of Dr. Cook and his wife Irma "Mo" will be begin 1:00 p.m. Sunday, December 28 at the Anglers Yacht Club, 2 North Causeway, New Smyrna Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to American Red Cross, 341 White Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, Halifax Health Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129 for the Southeast Volusia Care Center, or to the Coronado Elementary School PTA, 3550 Michigan Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169. Condolences may be sent to www.settlewilderfuneralhome.com.