Dean William Zook

Dean William Zook, beloved husband of Marlene Zook for 61 years and devoted father of Dena Zook-Howell, passed away on July 14^th in Gainesville, FL. Born in Pueblo, CO, Dean spent his school years in Albuquerque, NM, with his mother who was a music teacher, and the summers in Denver, CO, with his father, a businessman. He lived in California, Arizona, Chicago, Mexico, and South America at various points in his life, and over 30 years in Columbia, MD, before retiring to Florida. 

Dean attended the Kentucky Military Academy for high school and spent one year of college in Mexico. Between his freshman and sophomore years of college, he joined the Marines. Upon his honorable discharge, he earned his degree in Business Administration from University of Denver. Dean attended the American Institute for Foreign Trade (now American Graduate School of International Management) in Phoenix, AZ., earning a graduate degree in Marketing, Foreign Trade, and Finance and a fluency in Spanish.  He specialized in trade with Latin American countries.

After graduate school, Dean was employed as a buyer for the International Division of Sears in Caracas, Venezuela, where he was recognized by Sears for developing a line of office furniture which received the “Sears Best” award. He was later employed in the International Division of McCormick and Company in Hunt Valley, MD and later as a Vice President at Merrill Lynch for 25 years in MD and Washington, DC.  Recognition at Merrill Lynch included membership in the “President’s Club” multiple years and the “Chairman’s Club” for five consecutive years.  Dean was a featured financial speaker in investment and money management seminars at the U.S. Department of State, National Institutes of Health, medical and legal seminars, and for two cruise lines.

Dean loved his family, and they created many wonderful memories. Notable are the wonderful vacations that Dean planned, whether road trips to Daytona, stays at Disney, skiing in Vermont and Colorado, New York at Christmas, or going to Europe. The beach, especially Ocean City, was a favorite family destination. In addition to his wife and daughter, he leaves behind his granddaughter, Adrianna, step-granddaughter Victoria, son-in-law Charles, sister-in-law, Gerry Cline, and nieces and nephews Jeff, Jill, Jon, Steve, and Mark. His sense of humor and love of adventure will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702 at 1:30pm on Saturday, September 16, 2023, with a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the humbly request a donation to Shriner’s Hospitals, Dean’s favorite charity, which helps families with seriously ill children receive excellent healthcare at no cost.

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