Bernard C. Zook

Bernard C. Zook was born in 1935 in Beach, North Dakota and passed away in Lafayette, Indiana on December 16, 2025. Bernie's Father, Frank N. Zook, taught his last son hard work on his Golden Valley Farm. His Mother, Elizabeth Kramer Zook, imparted a love of life and family. Bernie attended the same one-room country grade school, Chandler School, as his four older siblings. He married his sweetheart, Elinore (Ellie) Anne Schillo, on October 1, 1955, and soon joined the US Army, serving on a tank battalion in Bavaria, where he and his wife enjoyed their first married year in a tiny apartment.
Bernie received a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University (Ft. Collins) in 1963. He then studied, trained and conducted research in human and animal pathology at Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health and the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, passing the boards for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. In 1969, Bernie joined the Department of Pathology at the George Washington University (GWU) School of Medicine, where he taught human pathology and completed research at the National Zoological Park. He was appointed Director of Animal Research at GWU, a position he held from 1972 to 2001. He was promoted to Professor of Pathology in 1983. Bernie researched the pathology of cancer, radiation, cardiac, and toxic diseases of humans and animals. He was the principal, or co-investigator on medical research grants totaling well over six million dollars and consulted for the National Cancer Institute, The Population Council at Rockefeller University, Johns Hopkins University, Fraunhofer Institut für Toxikologie, and other medical research and industrial organizations. He published over 90 scientific articles and book chapters and lectured at numerous scientific meetings in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe. He enjoyed a sabbatical year at the Hannover Medical School in Germany.
Bernie retired after 35 years at GWU and was elected Professor Emeritus of Pathology. He and Ellie then moved to a garden home at University Place, a retirement community in West Lafayette, IN. Ellie played piano and Bernie was the cantor for Catholic Mass at University Place for many years. From there, they continued their travels to every state in the US and along several pathways around the world. Bernie was an avid photographer and genealogist, and enjoyed bridge, symphonic concerts, ballets, operas, and Broadway plays.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Laurence Zook of Beach ND and Joseph Zook of Bismarck ND and sisters Doris Boyd of Campbell CA and Frances Zook of Sunnyvale CA. He is survived by his wife Elinore of West Lafayette IN, daughter Bernita Leonard (husband, Richard) of Takoma Park MD, daughter Melinda Zook of West Lafayette IN, son Andrew Zook of Orlando FL (wife, Wanda) and grandchildren Elizabeth (Leonard) Rosen of Wasilla, AK, Nicholas Leonard of Huntington WV, and Elinora (Leonard) Rattey of Takoma Park MD and granddaughter Lucy Zook of West Lafayette, IN.
Private Graveside Services will be held. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery.