Lewis Edward Cook III died tragically after being struck by a drunk driver as he walked to his hotel Sunday in Vail, Colorado. He was 32 years old. Lewis was born January 4, 1979 in San Francisco, California, where he attended University High School. During high school, Lewis distinguished himself as a four-time All-American swimmer.
Lewis graduated from Princeton University with honors in Economics in 2001. He played on the Princeton varsity water polo team during his time there. Upon graduation from Princeton, Lewis worked for the John Lewis Company in Austin, Texas for three years, establishing himself in the Austin real estate community. Thereafter, he continued his academic pursuits at Duke University Business School, where he earned his MBA and was recognized as a Duke Scholar in 2007. Lewis then returned to Texas, and the Austin community he had come to love. He worked at Simmons Vedder in acquisitions before starting his own real estate investment company last year. He was presently directing a project in his family oil and gas interests. Lewis was active in the Real Estate Council of Austin, Urban Land Institute, and Young Men’s Business League.
Lewis traveled the world extensively with his classmates and his family. His innate curiosity and quest to always know, allowed him to make new friends through his genuine interest in knowing their story. He treated everybody the same…with genuine interest, respect and compassion. He rarely met a stranger. He recently returned from a mountainous trek through Australia with his uncle Steve, with whom he shared numerous adventures. In his spare time he tutored socially disadvantaged youth. He had a big heart and was generous with his time, valued his friends, loved his family. He was a rock for all of them. He was a swimmer and avid skier who had a love for the outdoors. Lewis enjoyed his all too brief life to the fullest, and stepped into leadership responsibilities quickly. When his father developed cancer last year, he commuted between Austin and San Francisco every month to assist his father in the family business. In short, Lewis was the type of person that we all aspire to be.
Lewis is survived by his parents, Lewis and Susan Cook of Glen Ellen, Ca., and his sister, Alison Cook of Sebastopol, Ca., his uncles, Steve Yoss of Davis, Ca., Jim and Jayne Yoss of Fairfax, Ca., and Ron Honda of Honolulu, Hi., and his cousins Tami Choi, Yoshi Honda, Ann and Caroline Yoss. He is also survived by his grandmother, Kathe Yoss of Rochester, Mn. Lewis will be missed by his girlfriend, Amanda Osterhout of Houston, Tx.; his godparents, Jan and and her late husband, Bill, Austin. Although Lewis was a fourth generation Californian, his great-great-great-great- grandfather, George Washington Petty, fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and is depicted in the mural of battle in the State Capital.
There will be a celebration of his life in Austin, Texas on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Rd., Austin, TX 78703-3201
There will be a family interment service in Sonoma, Ca. on March 19th. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to: Austin Sunshine Camps PO Box 684980 Austin, TX 78768-4980, Deep Eddy Mural in care of Friends of Deep Eddy, 1409 W. 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78703, or a charity of your choice.
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