DAVID COOK

David E. Cook was born in Chicago, Illinois (Cook County) on December 29, 1924. He passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at the age of 85. Dave's family moved to California in 1925, with Dave riding in a basket on the back seat of a Model T. They lived in Los Angeles and moved to Modesto in 1936 where Dave attended junior high and high school. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served from December 1942 through January 1946 as a Sonar Operator on the destroyer U.S.S. Hailey in the Pacific Theater. Dave married Velma Knutson in December, 1946. He graduated from San Jose State with a Bachelor's Degree in 1949, earned his Masters Degree a few years later, and completed other graduate work at Fresno State, and the University of Pennsylvania. Dave joined the staff of the Coalinga-Huron School District as Administrator for Business from 1950-1962. He served as Chairman of the Civil Service Board - City of Coalinga, from 1952-1962. He was President of the Coalinga Rotary Club from 1960-1962. Dave moved his family to Clovis in 1962 to become the Business Manager of the Clovis Unified School District. He was instrumental in the development of Clovis Unified as a nationally acclaimed school district. Dave retired as Deputy Superintendent in 1986. He served as President of the Clovis Rotary Club from 1969-1970. Dave was also a charter member of the Association of California School Administrators. During his retirement years, Dave was a founding director of the Central Valley Community Bank. He also worked as an educational consultant at Edwin S. Darden Associates, Inc. for seven years. In 1994, the Clovis Unified district office complex at Herndon and Sunnyside was named the David E. Cook Educational Services Center. The street that forms the core of the complex is now named David E. Cook Way. Dave was preceded in death by his parents; and daughter, Teresa. He is survived by Velma, his wife, of 63 years. Dave is also survived by his daughters, Alison Larimer and her husband Howard, Stephanie Cavoto and her husband Bob, and Kimberly Collins and her husband Gregg. Dave leaves behind seven grandchildren; Jeffrey Larimer and his wife Brooke, Eric Larimer and his wife Katie, Maxwell, Kristen, and Ali Keate, Hailey and Bradley Collins; and greatgrandson, Jackson Larimer. Dave is also survived by sisters, Donna Prichard, Marjorie Schrage, brothers Jerry and Curtis Cook. Dave is remembered as a man of dignity who loved his family. Nothing pleased him more than spending time with his grandchildren fishing at Huntington Lake or playing in the sand at the beach. A kid at heart, he never missed an opportunity to ride on a rollercoaster. At the age of 72, he took up golf because it gave him even more time with his sons-in-law and grandsons. A Private Family Celebration is planned to honor Dave's memory. In lieu of flowers or gifts, remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society or American Macular Degeneration Foundation. NEPTUNE SOCIETY Of Central California 1154 W. Shaw Ave Fresno,Ca.(559)222-7764