David Cook

November 14, 1934 - November 12, 2023

David Z. Cook 2/14/34-11/12/23 David Zaban Cook born in Duluth, Minnesota, and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, was the son of Helen Zaban Cook and Theodore L. Cook. He attended St. Paul Academy and graduated from Harvard College ‘55.

He then completed the Bloomingdales’ Retail Training program in New York City, but soon after was drafted into the U.S. Navy ultimately serving on the U.S.S. Kearsarge stationed in Alameda, Calif. He fell in love with the Bay Area, and after discharge worked selling the first tape cartridge background music systems to Bay Area businesses.

In 1960 he married Phyllis Levine, daughter of Adeline and Leo Levine of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and moved to Chicago to serve as head of sales for the tape cartridge business until it was sold in 1962 and returned to the Bay Area working in electrical wholesale distribution.

In 1967 he established the D.Z. Cook Company as an electrical manufacturer’s representative where he remained active. He later also became the Northwest distributor for Ademco, an alarm security company.

He was known as a man of exceptional integrity- fair, honest, and direct. He had the ability to give each person he interacted with his undivided attention and was known as a wise and very generous mentor and friend to many.

He served on non-profit boards including the Jewish Home for the Aged (now

S.F. Campus for Jewish Living) and president of Jewish Vocational Services (JVS). He was a lifelong supporter of the Jewish Community Federation where he made many lasting friends.

He loved sports as a participant, particularly, tennis and golf, and as a major Giants, 49’ers, and Warriors fan. He was a constant learner, especially history, global affairs and politics always open to learning about new ideas.

Present throughout his life was an indefatigable sense of humor and optimism.

A good, wise, authentic man, in a word: a “mensch”, is no longer with us.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, his daughter Anne (Jeremy Solterbeck). his dear predeceased son, Daniel Levine Cook, brother Theodore L. Cook II (Glenna),uncle of Cathy, Ted (Kelly), and Jon Cook, great uncle of Wyatt and Dustin Cook.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Daniel Levine Cook Scholarship Fund at the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund,121 Steuart Street, S.F. 94115 or the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), 220 East 42nd Street, Suite 400, New York, NY 10017.