Gary L. Cook

Gary Leon Cook, 63, of Bowie, MD passed away suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition on Friday, November 9, 2018.

He was born January 29, 1955 in Hagerstown, MD to the late Edith and Howell Cook, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Catherine Cook, and two children, Maya and Jabari Cook. He was also one of five siblings: Betty Stoner, Mwamba Cook, Eunice Keats, and the late Howell Cook, Jr.

Gary graduated from North Hagerstown High School in 1973 and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brown University in 1977. He further continued his education by earning his Master’s in Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill in 1988. The most recent portion of his professional career took place at the Health Resources & Services Administration, where he worked for 27 years in the HIV/AIDS Bureau. Gary’s coworkers have recalled countless moments with him where he brought joy, laughter, and guidance to their work days.

In his spare time, Gary enjoyed listening to jazz, practicing Tai Chi, biking, and running. Through his love of running, he even completed the Richmond Full Marathon and Baltimore Half Marathon. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with friends and family and was able to enjoy life’s precious moments, including seeing his son off to college at the University of Pittsburgh and visiting his daughter during her study-abroad semester in Oxford, England.

Friends and family will remember Gary for his caring nature, love of athletics, and trademark sense of humor. We will all remember his humorous facial expressions that turned dull or boring moments into times of laughter. The positive impact he has left on the lives of his countless friends and family members is undeniable.

Gary was indisputably an amazing man, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, mentor, and friend who will forever live on in our hearts and memories.