Who was Ann Turner Cook?
Ann Turner Cook is the daughter of a syndicated cartoonist, Leslie Turner, who drew the comic strip Captain Easy for decades.
Turner was just four months old in 1926 when a neighbor sketched the portrait of her in charcoal that would later become the Gerber’s logo.
Ann Turner was born on November 20, 1926, and was known for Gerber Baby.
In 1928, when Gerber announced it was looking for baby images for its upcoming line of baby food, Smith’s drawing was submitted and subsequently chosen. It was trademarked in 1931.
The drawing of Ann Turner Cook has been used on virtually all Gerber baby food packaging since.
Where did Ann Turner Cook attend College?
Cook attended the University of South Florida and other post-secondary schools.
She studied education and English journalism and earned several degrees, including a master’s degree in English Education.
She was a sister in the sorority Pi Beta Phi.
Cook taught at Oak Hill elementary school in Florida, and then at Madison Junior High School, in Tampa, Florida. In 1966, she joined the English Department of Tampa’s Hillsborough High School, where she taught literature and creative writing. Students there dedicated the 1978 Hilsborean school yearbook to Cook, who sponsored the book.
In it, students described her as “a teacher who really communicates with the students” and who, “without any complaints . . . has stayed late, worked nights, and with quiet efficiency supported her staff in their monumental task”
After retiring from teaching, Cook became a novelist. A member of the Mystery Writers of America, she is the author of the Brandy O’Bannon series of mystery novels set on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The adventures of Florida reporter and amateur sleuth O’Bannon are detailed in Trace Their Shadows (2001) and Shadow over Cedar Key (2003).
How did Ann Turner Cook die?
Anna Turner Cook’s death was announced on Gerber’s Instagram page.
Gerber is deeply saddened by the passing of Ann Turner Cook, the original Gerber baby, whose face was sketched to become the iconic Gerber logo more than 90 years ago.
Many years before becoming an extraordinary mother, teacher and writer, her smile and expressive curiosity captured hearts everywhere and will continue to live on as a symbol for all babies. We extend our deepest sympathies to Ann’s family and to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her 💙
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