Gerda Priehn Hook

Published 5:06 pm Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Gerda Priehn Hook entered her Eternal rest on May 19, 2016 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

She was born on Dec. 21, 1942 in the German Free City of Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland). Trying to stay ahead of the Soviet Army’s push to Berlin, Gerda and her mother walked from Danzig to Hannover, Germany in the winter of 1944-45 where Gerda’s grandparents lived.

She was predeceased by her parents, Gertrud and Hans Priehn of Hendersonville, N.C. She is survived by her husband, Samuel S. Hook and all of the critters—Cooper, Tucker, Venus, Serena, Charlie, Eli, Bono, Cody and the parrot, Buster.

She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Mary Hook Berry and her husband, Roger, and Lydia Hook; two nephews, Dr. Furman Daniel (Christina) and Mr. Lawson Berry; and a niece, Ms. Cathy Bradberry.

Gerda immigrated to the United States with her parents in May 1952 and graduated high school in Brecksville, Ohio. She graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana.

She spent most of her career in advancement at Harvard Medical School, Yale Medical School, the School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Vanderbilt Nursing School, Vanderbilt Medical School, LSU at Shreveport, Centenary College, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida, the University of California at Riverside, Guide Dogs of the Desert, Friends of the Desert Mountains, Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, and Foothills Humane Society.

She had a great love for her horse, Bono, and her dog, Cooper. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, Gerda enjoyed tennis and sailing. She was a fabulous cook and had a large cookbook library of over 500 cookbooks. She loved to paint and was successful in selling several of her paintings.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Cindi Staben who went the third and fourth miles for her in the last several weeks of her life. The family also wishes to thank all of the special friends who were so encouraging to her as she fought cancer for nine years. A memorial service will be held at a later time.

Submitted by Samuel S. Hook