Dorothy “Dottie” McDonnell Cooke, Ph.D. (1946-2016)

Dorothy "Dottie" McDonnell Cooke, Ph.D., retired assistant professor of nursing, died Sept. 23, 2016. She was 69 years old.

Cooke was born Sept. 25, 1946, in St. Louis, Missouri to Bernard P. and Dorothy Dowd McDonnell. She graduated from the Academy of the Sacred Heart City House in St. Louis.

---

Cooke graduated from St. John’s Mercy School of Nursing before earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia, an M.S.N. from the Medical College of Georgia and a Ph.D. in health organization research from Saint Louis University.

She attended flight nurse school at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base in Texas. Cooke earned a Bronze Star during the Vietnam War and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel United States Army Reserve.

For 32 years, Cooke was a member of the School of Nursing faculty. She taught courses in adult health before retiring in 2014.

Teri Murray, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Nursing, said Dr. Cooke loved teaching the next generation of nurses.

"Dr. Cooke was an expert in cardiopulmonary nursing," Murray said. "She was committed to excellence and service as evidenced by her stellar military history."

Murray praised Cooke as an outstanding educator, leader and role model.

"She was warm, humorous, and frequently filled the halls of the School with her hearty laugh. She will be missed!"

Cooke is survived by her children and their spouses: Brian J. (Christine) Cooke, Dorothy (Ralph) Silverman, Lewis Cooke and Ana (Kobe) Taher, as well as seven grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was held Sept. 29 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Clayton. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery. In memory of Cooke, memorials may be sent to the Religious of the Sacred Heart, 4120 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108.