John Cook, 75, of Atlanta, GA, died peacefully at home on May 22. Born and raised in Joliet, IL, John was the son of the late John H. Cook and Mary Rita (Smith) Cook. He graduated from Joliet High School and Saint Louis University. He married the love of his life, M. Lucy (Simpson) Cook in St. Louis, MO in 1967.
John spent a significant part of his career in executive positions at May Company Department Stores which took him and his family from St. Louis, MO to Conroe, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Danbury CT. John and Lucy moved to Atlanta, where John ultimately founded the auditing firm, Profit Recovery Group in 1991. John successfully took the company public in 1996. With his vast knowledge of the retail industry, the company grew rapidly and became the largest provider of audit recovery services in the world, operating in more than forty countries. In 2011, following a brief and unsuccessful attempt at retirement, John founded his second successful company, Flexible Technology Solutions, a provider of audit recovery solutions.
John’s unwavering optimism, compassion and generosity touched the hearts and souls of his family, friends and colleagues around the world. He became an active philanthropist as he developed a passion for promoting education, especially in countries with limited opportunities. He worked with many charitable organizations, especially in Thailand and Nepal, dedicated to supporting and educating children in need. He personally sponsored numerous students from around the world to continue their education in high school and college in the United States.
John continued to support and serve on the advisory board at his alma mater, St. Louis University. In 2000, the School of Business was renamed the John Cook School of Business in recognition of John’s enduring commitment to education and entrepreneurial spirit. Additionally, John served on the board of trustees of the Woodruff Arts Center, board of directors of the High Museum of Art and the advisory board of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Ann Cook. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lucy; daughter, Christy; son Jim and his wife Christine, of Cleveland, OH; son Tom and his wife Karina; brother Dave and his wife Kate; sister Pam Cook of Danville, IL; sister Pat Sluiter and her husband Al of Danville, IL; six grandchildren, Caity, Adam, Kanya, Kieran, Lilah, and Piper; and loving nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 4465 Northside Drive, NW, Atlanta at 3pm on Tuesday, May 29th. The Rite of Committal will immediately follow at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Highway, Atlanta. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Mercy Center (www.mercycentreusa.org) P.O. Box 1604, Annapolis MD 21404-1604.
