A Legacy of Giving: In Memory of William Alfred Cook, Founder of the Cook Group

Abstract

It is incredibly rare to speak of an individual whose passion, drive, and innovation touched the lives of so many around the world, yet William Alfred Cook was such an individual. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Cook was an inspiration and was once described as someone who ‘‘ . . . truly epitomized the meaning of success.’’ His company, Cook Medical, was started in 1963 in his spare room with only 1,500 dollars in invested capital and his wife as the sole employee. The business soon grew and is currently a two billion-dollar global entity of 42 companies employing more than 10,000 people across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The world of interventional radiology owes much to Mr. Cook for his work as a pioneer in the development of cutting-edge, minimally invasive medical device technologies that have helped heal countless numbers of patients around the world. As a philanthropist, Mr. Cook was dedicated to preserving the American architectural legacy for future generations to enjoy. Along with his family, he was involved in the renovation of several significant buildings in America. He also believed in the importance of highquality medical training, and Cook Medical provided financial support to numerous training institutions as well as funding for some of CIRSE’s Foundation Grants. During the 2008 CIRSE annual congress, Mr. Cook bestowed a great honor upon our society by accepting our lifetime achievement award—the CIRSE Gold Medal. This was a small token of recognition for—and appreciation of— his remarkable contributions to minimally invasive medicine; a sentiment shared throughout the European community. Bill Cook will always be remembered as a pioneer, a humanitarian, and a gentleman whose exemplary approach to life will continue to inspire the world for many years to come.