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BORN
1949
DIED
2015
FUNERAL HOME
Gary Cook Obituary
Sept. 5, 1949 to Jan. 15, 2015
Resident of Pleasanton
With sadness the family and friends of Gary Cook have said their final goodbyes. We were all blessed to have known him. A quiet soul, a caring man and a generous friend... this is how he embraced life. Gary finally succumbed to brain cancer on the fifteenth of January. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda Holloway; his brother, Andy; and a large and loving extended family.
Gary was born in Pennsylvania in 1949, graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in chemistry in 1971, and went on to earn his master's degree from the University of Oregon three years later. Gary then moved to California and spent most of his life working in the area of environmental science and research. Gary was very well-read and almost impossible to beat at Trivial Pursuit.
In his retirement, Gary greatly enjoyed spending time outdoors – golfing, camping, skiing, bike-riding, and travelling. He was a very enthusiastic supporter of the Bay Area Ridge Trail organization, spending many years hiking and fund-raising with them in order to complete the trail around the bay. They are now just 100 miles short of their goal.
However, Gary's favorite recreation was to spend quality time with his family, both young and old, whom he loved so deeply. To him they were all precious, and Gary was passionate about ensuring that each of them got his special attention. His devoted family will be holding a private ceremony on the Bay Area Trail, which offers a special place of beauty, peace, and reflection.
"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you." A.A. Milne
Tax-deductible donations can be made in Gary's memory to: Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, www.ridgetrail.org , at 1007 General Kennedy Ave., Suite 3, San Francisco CA 94129
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gary Cook
Sponsored by East Bay Times.
Dick Wenzel
January 23, 2022
01/23/2022: I remember Gary especially around the time for The Livermore Shakespeare Festival, and then again when I talk with Bay Area Ridge Trail friends, and (just 10 minutes ago) when conversing with a friend, who dedicates advisement time to prospective college applicants, like Gary so generously did. Clearly Gary remains with me, and remembering him makes me feel good! Dick Wenzel
Dick Wenzel
January 26, 2015
Gary was a great guy! He was a Dartmouth classmate who loved to annually help me complete interviews of the applicants for the incoming Dartmouth class. I always enjoyed hanging out with Gary at our class reunions & annual dinners and at our annual rendezvous at the Livermore Shakespeare Festival. Gary was also counseling me for my eventual (hopefully soon) retirement, in which he advised that I should not over commit to any post-retirement, non-family activity; because he was wisely rationing out his available time to preserve the largest share for Linda and the grandchildren!
I will miss Gary.
Dick Wenzel
January 23, 2015
Jim and I are very sad to learn of Gary's passing. He was a true gentleman and will be missed.
Jim & Jackie Ditmer
Roy and Ann Gillette
January 23, 2015
We will miss you. You will always be in our hearts
January 22, 2015
I am very saddened to read of Gary's passing. He was a wonderful classmate, fraternity brother and friend. We remained in touch after Dartmouth when I was at Oregon State and he was at Oregon pursuing Masters degrees. But lost touch when he moved to CA and I to the East Coast . It wasn't until I returned to CA that we reconnected by carpooling to several class dinners in San Francisco. I wish we had spent more time together. It was so easy to reconnect with him after long hiatuses that I always thought there was more time. And we had families and busy lives. I was privileged to know him during those years at Dartmouth and to have reconnected with him late in life. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends on a great loss. Roger Prince
The Staff of Graham-Hitch Mortuary
January 22, 2015
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Gary at a Ridge Trail work day at Chabot Regional Park
Janet McBride
January 21, 2015
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