Gerrard Pook

Gerrard Pook - Architect, Artist and Poet - was born on October 2, 1926 in Chicago and passed away on October 4, 2022 in Cambridge, MA. Gerrard celebrated his 96th birthday with his daughters Polly and Barbara and, by video chat, his beloved grandson Nic. Gerrard attended Deep Springs College from 1943-44, a rigorous academic institution set on an isolated cattle ranch in California. Gerrard entered the Navy in 1944 and, after the war, enrolled at Cornell University as a member of the Telluride House, earning his B. Arch. in 1951. He set sail to Italy as a Fulbright Scholar in the fall of 1951. On return, Gerrard joined the Chicago architectural firm of Holabird & Root, later becoming a partner. With his wife Helen, he designed their home in Barrington IL. Helen died in 1977. The crowning achievement of his career was the acclaimed renovation of the Chicago Public Library Cultural Center in 1977. He retired from Holabird & Root in 1979, though he continued to design building renovations for friends and family late into his eighties. Gerrard was Fellow, College of Fellows, American Institute of Architects Emeritus. Gerrard moved to Chicago to live with his partner John Paoletti and immersed himself in art and poetry and the support of HIV/AIDS research. After John's death, Gerrard spent his life between Chicago and Toronto with his partner Alex. Both were active in local arts and culture and Gerrard lent his support to many young and emerging artists. He made many lifelong relationships in Chicago and Toronto. Gerrard moved to Youville in Cambridge in 2013 after being diagnosed with a rare blood cancer. He soon made his mark on Cambridge and became a fixture at the Harvard Art Museum. He was also a denizen of the Cambridge Public Library. Gerrard deeply appreciated the care he received at Youville House, developing close attachments with both staff and residents. Gerrard was well-loved by many. He is survived by daughters, Barbara Pook and Polly Pook; grandson Nicolas Rappo and partner Alex Liros.