David Alistair Cook (May 19, 1945 - September 13, 2009).

Dear Alumni:

It is with profound sorrow that I inform you of the sudden and untimely death of David Alistair Cook (May 19, 1945 - September 13, 2009).

David was a pupil at Emanuel school from 1952 - 1959. Whilst at Emanuel he had an outstanding academic and athletic record. However, his proudest achievement was being elected School Captain.

David continued his education at Oriel College Oxford earning a D. Phil in Pharmacology. On September 13, 1967 he set sail for Canada to accept a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Alberta.

His academic diligence and leadership abilities propelled him through the ranks to become the youngest Chairman of Pharmacology in Canada (1981 - 1991). David received many awards and accolades during his Chairmanship but his greatest prowess was his teaching ability.

When he stepped down as Department Chairman he continued at the University of Alberta, as Director of Studies in Medical Education. David spent the last fifteen years travelling the world lecturing at numerous universities, imparting his knowledge and insights to the teaching of medical students. He was also nominated by the medical students as Teacher of the Year for fifteen of the last twenty years.

David was a keen oarsman; he stared in his early teens as a coxswain for Thames Rowing Club. He rowed for Emanuel’s 1st VIII and continued at Oriel rowing for their 1st VIII and also sculling for Oriel. He was also a member of Leander.

David found that the Alberta climate was not conducive to rowing and expanded his athletic interests to the equestrian field. He took particular interest in Hunters and Jumpers. He competed in local events and became a proficient course designer. In the 1970’s David was an assistant to the course designer at Spruce Meadows. He also taught at Pony Club and became District Commissioner.

Escaping to the tropics to avoid Edmonton’s brutal winters, David reignited his love of sailing, which started at Emanuel during school trips to the Baltic. He became an avid and accomplished windsurfer and windsurf teacher.

To keep in shape over the summer he joined the Hash House Harriers and competed in many local road races and as a member of a relay team in the gruelling Jasper to Banff relay.

David’s interest in the arts was nurtured at an early age by his mother Monica (Monica was also well know at Emanuel for her appearances in performances with the Portcullis Drama Club). David’s taste in music was eclectic; he loved to strum his guitar and relax to jazz. However, his real passion was for classical music and opera. He was well known in Edmonton musical circles for his humourous and informative introductions to the Edmonton Symphony Performances and as a Patron of the Edmonton Opera.

David led an energetic, hectic and accomplished life and will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched. Those wishing to make a donation to David’s memory may do so to:

Dr. David Cook Fund for the Edmonton Symphony Society and Edmonton Opera Association, #4 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2B4

Horas non numero nisi serenas

Sincerely, Bobbie Cook

If any of your alumni wish to contact me please feel free to include my email address

bobbie.cook@shaw.ca