David Cook

Thinking Forward: David Cook’s Legacy of Service from the Monitor to The Willows

When David Cook and his wife, Linda, decided to move to The Willows in 2017, a key reason was that they wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren. One of their three sons happened to drive by the community and encouraged them to take a look. What they discovered wasn’t just a place to live, it was a place where they truly felt they belonged.

The real draw was the people. “Linda and I quickly made wonderful new friends and were delighted to be around to welcome arrivals from Boston,” David says. Both David and Linda appreciate opportunities to connect with their neighbors, including bus rides to church, meals in the dining room, and heartfelt conversations during walks around campus.

“Experts say loneliness is one of the greatest challenges of aging,” David mentions. “But here, there’s a sense of connection. That’s one thing that makes The Willows so special.”

A Life in Journalism

Prior to moving to The Willows, David had a long career in journalism. His father was a reporter for The Christian Science Monitor, and in 1947, newborn David was carried into the Boston newsroom in his mother’s arms. The Monitor wasn’t just a paper, it was practically part of the family.

From childhood connections with highly respected journalists like DeWitt John to a pivotal internship arranged by a family friend in Monitor management, David’s path seemed inevitable. He began on the lowest rung as a “copy kid” in the summer of 1968, then returned after college and Army service to a Monitor newsroom brimming with talent.

He rose through the ranks, writing, editing, and eventually holding key leadership roles in print, television, and radio. He served as Editor of the Monitor for seven pivotal years when csmonitor.com was launched and the paper won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. 

David then served as Washington bureau chief and host of the Monitor Breakfasts, where reporters from major news organizations interview congressional, administration and military officials, giving the Monitor national visibility and influence far beyond its circulation.  He served as host for 17 years, presiding over 670 sessions of this Monitor tradition, which continues today under Washington bureau chief Linda Feldmann.

Key Moments Of Growth and Healing 

During his career, David witnessed Christian Science in action in moments of grace and courage.

He recalls vividly the harrowing experiences of two Monitor colleagues who were kidnapped overseas: David Rohde in Bosnia, and Jill Carroll in Iraq. David was deeply involved in efforts to support their families, manage global media responses, and work with diplomats behind the scenes. In both cases, prayer and love guided the work and eventually their safe return home.

During the effort to win a Pulitzer Prize for Rohde, former editor Katherine (Kay) Fanning played a crucial behind-the-scenes role. Kay’s steadfast support of the Monitor at a crucial moment was “a beautiful example of lived Christianity,” David said. “It helped bring healing to the Monitor family.”

During Carroll’s captivity, David served as the Monitor’s public face, providing updates on Today, Good Morning America, the PBS NewsHour, and numerous other programs.  When Jill was finally released, he and Monitor editor Richard Bergenheim met her on the jetway at Logan Airport.  Jill’s family, who were not Christian Scientists, later hosted a dinner to thank the Monitor staff and paid tribute to Mrs. Eddy’s motives in founding The Monitor. “It was an unforgettable moment,” he said.

Christian Science also supported David personally—especially as his term as editor drew to a close.  “Richard Bergenheim, a dear friend and teacher of Christian Science, sent me a passage from Isaiah: ‘Behold, I will do a new thing…I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.’ (Isa 43:19) That stayed with me. That was love in action.”

Thinking Forward: A New Chapter

Though David retired from journalism and newsroom life in 2017, his talents continued to be sought after when he came to live at The Willows. He served a term as President of the Residents’ Association Board.  During the pandemic, The Willows launched Thinking Forward, a video interview series aimed at connecting residents and the greater Christian Science community, especially at a time when being neighborly, in person, was at a standstill. Whom better to host and interview guests, but David, the seasoned interviewer.

The series featured residents and voices from across the movement, highlighting topics such as the economy and the environment. Guests included Bruce Jeffries (Principal Foundation), Julie Finnin-Day (CherishAbility), and longtime Monitor colleagues Marshall Ingwerson and Clara Germani.  

Thinking Forward’s impact on viewers from around the globe, helped shift perceptions that residents were winding down at The Willows. Instead, they were still engaged, curious, and spiritually active. “One woman even told me she moved to The Willows because of the series,” Cook says. 

Still Thinking Forward

David’s journey from early membership in The Monitor family to becoming a seasoned journalist trusted with international crises, to hosting breakfasts with key public figures and continuing to interview thoughtful leaders with Thinking Forward, reflects a life of humble service and deep devotion. At The Willows, David’s sense of purpose has taken on a new form. Whether guiding community decisions as a member of The Willows Foundation Board, or simply showing up as a neighbor and friend, David continues to lead with quiet strength and unwavering integrity. His story is a testament to the idea that impact doesn’t end with retirement, it evolves. And in this new chapter, surrounded by fellow seekers and thinkers, David’s legacy of connection, dedication, and inspired service carries on, always thinking forward.