Lt. Col. Douglas J. Cook,USAF Ret. - Obituary

he journey began on April 20, 1931, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was born on an irrigated farm to the late Jesse and Evalyn Cook. Following graduation from Idaho Falls High School, Douglas graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Idaho in 1952 and was commissioned as an Air Force Lieutenant. Following initial active duty, he married Pauline Poirier at Syracuse University in 1954. During his military career, he served with the USAF Security Service in Greenland and stations in Texas, Okinawa, Vietnam, and Korea. Like all military families, they moved dozens of times living in New York, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, Japan, Okinawa and finally settling in Heritage Harbour, Annapolis, Maryland in 1993. Douglas attended graduate school at Syracuse University and received Masters's Degrees from the University of Arizona and Central Michigan University. Post-retirement included consulting for the Washington, DC government and teaching Russian and English as a foreign language, and public speaking in local academic environments. Upon retirement in 1978 as a Lt. Colonel, having received both USAF and DOD meritorious service medals, he was a member of the Air Force Association and life member of the Military Officers of America Association and the American Legion local Post 7. Doug and Pauline described themselves as retired roadrunners because they motor homed for 36 years throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and New Zealand. Their travels also included China, Russia, Central America, Australia, Scandinavia, Panama Canal, and numerous cruises. His interests were motor homing, golf, pickleball, bowling, horseshoes, country music, and toast mastering, where he was a charter member and officer in three overseas Toastmasters international organizations He is survived by his dedicated wife of 68 years, Pauline Cook, his three children, Linda Pittelli (Frank) of Edgewater, MD., Karen Durilla (Franklyn) of Mt Airy, MD., and Gordon Cook (Virginia) of Midvale, Utah, three grandchildren, Sandra Pittelli, Bryan Nelson and Alex Cook, three great-grandchildren, Miles, Delaney and Calvin, one brother, Wayne Cook, and two sisters, Carleen Cook and Carol Cheney. A private ceremony with full military honors will be held at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery Columbarium in Crownsville, MD at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fisher House Foundation Inc., 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852. Condolences may be left for his family by using the memories link on the left