Dave Cook

[Rick Campbell]

....has passed away. He was my good friend and stunt "guru." He was "the guy" in Stunt in New England. In his first stunt life, 1950-60s he was unbeatable out here. He and his "500 Club" were 1-2-3 at almost every contest they attended. He even beat Gene Shaffer at Gene's home field in Flushing Meadows. He flew R/C then came back to C/L Stunt in the 80s and mentored many of us. Almost every stunt flyer in New England built one of Dave's Lightning I Beam designs in Dave's cellar on his custom building jig. He was very involved in training judges and helping to make judging better. He wrote spreadsheet programs that made tabulating so fast that scores were being posted before a flyer could finish wiping down his plane. His contributions to our hobby/sport/obsession were immense. We will all miss him.

Rick Campbell

[George Higgins]

Rick,

I just got Damian's E-mail on Dave's passing. I was so glad to be able to talk to Dave several weeks ago as we had lost contact for a while.

I first met Dave at a contest at the New Bedford Airport. I think I was 15 years old? I had only heard of the "500 Club" and to see Dave and Roy Tucker fly the AMA Stunt Pattern was an education on how it should be flown. I could do inside and outside loops plus fly inverted.

I would not meet Dave again for some 15 years. We had a Club that flew in Braintree, MA. One day this Tall/Lanky Guy shows up looking to see if he could join us at our field and fly with us. This was the start of a 40 year friendship.

There was a group of us that got together that started hitting the "Contest Trail" to New York and New Jersey. We would meet at Dave's house pack up my "BLUE VAN" and head out. One of our first Contest was at the Circle Burns where we had the privilege of staying at Windy's House (Little Ferry). Ask Doug how that was.

Then there were the NEST Christmas Parties and Cookouts that Dave and Dot hosted that brought all of us together over the years.

I was glad to see the recognition that Dave received from both PAMPA and AMA.

Doug, Pam and Dave Jr,

God bless, your will be missed but not forgotten.

George and Cheryl Higgins



   

[Chris McMillin]

Thanks for the note, Rick.
Those of us that knew him but haven't been in touch appreciate it. Dave was a big part of keeping stunt going in the 80's and 90's when I was pushing to be competitive and seeing him at the Nats and East Coast contests will stay with me.
Hope you and your family are well, best wishes.
Chris...

[Will Moore]

       I met Dave  Cook  as a young flyer, competing in the contests all over New England in the early Sixties. I went to and competed in every contest  I could get to, and every contest seemed to have Dave there as a contest director. He was pivotal in keeping things going. I was flying as a "Senior" contestant at the time and I remember watching him fly the pattern. I uttered to myself, " When I fly in "Open" , How will I ever beat that guy?"  I ended up getting drafted which interrupted flying for awhile.  By the time I got started again, it was 2002 ish. Met Dave again with Rick, Steve, and all the guys, flying in  Wrentham, MA. He was there helping us with prop selection, fuel mix, line length, engine run, and critiquing our flights. Always kind, and gentle , with a gleam in his eyes, and giving us his witty comments needed to keep us from thinking too much of ourselves. And I also built stunt machines with his Lightning airfoil.  You felt the need to do it out of sheer respect for the man.   I am in Florida now, and regrettably, cannot come up to pay respects to the family.  But please accept my sincere condolences , and know that he was loved and will be missed. And you are right, Rick, an era has ended and passed, with him. Dave, may fair winds and following seas be with you forever.

Will Moore