ROBERT P. COOK JR. ’49

Robert P. Cook, Jr., died at age 90 on March 1, 2016 with his family by his side.

Mr. Cook, resident of Walnut Creek, Calif. and longtime resident of New Canaan, was born on Sept. 5, 1925 in Arlington, Mass. to the late Robert Parker and Christine Darling Cook.

Mr. Cook defended his country in WWII as one of the original crewmembers of LCI-1091, on which he served as a signalman from the time of its commissioning in Lake Michigan in September 1944 until the end of its occupation duties in Japan in December 1945. LCI-1091 is now a museum ship for the Humboldt Bay Naval Sea/Air Museum at Eureka, Calif. and is one of the only examples afloat of this special class of seagoing amphibious assault ships.

Mr. Cook graduated from Wesleyan University in 1949 and spent 35 years working for International Silver Company in Meriden, Conn. as general sales manager. His honesty, loyalty, humor and impeccable good manners served him well in his professional life, and his private years were marked by an extraordinary kindness. All of his summers were spent at his family residence on Southport Island, Maine, which he viewed as the most wonderful place on earth.

Bob was preceded in death in 2011 by his wife and pal Charlotte C. Cook, his partner of 63 years.

Mr. Cook is survived in life by his two daughters, Alison Downs of Solana Beach, Calif. and Leslie Weaver of Lafayette, Calif.; his sons-in-law Michael Downs and John Weaver; his four grandsons Miles Stenehjem, Garrett Stenehjem, Kyle Weaver and Ian Weaver; and their wives Anita Stenehjem, Patricia Weaver and Annelise Weaver.

A family graveside service to celebrate Mr. Cook’s life was held on Saturday, March 12, at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan.