Margery L. Cook

Margery L. Cook
Born	1925 Independence, Missouri, U.S.
Died	July 6, 2001 (aged 75-76)
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles (Ph.D.)
Scientific career
Fields	Herpes virology
Institutions	University of California, Los Angeles
Thesis	Varicella-Zoster virus (1968)
Doctoral advisor	Jack G. Stevens

Margery Louise Cook (1925 – July 6, 2001) was an American virologist. She was a researcher at University of California, Los Angeles in the field of herpes virology.

Life

Cook was born in Independence, Missouri in 1925. She completed a Ph.D. in medical microbiology and immunology from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For her 1968 dissertation, Cook researched varicella-zoster under mentor Jack G. Stevens.

In 1971, Cook and Stevens published the first direct evidence that herpes simplex can establish persistent latent infection in the spinal ganglia of mice. Her work generated more research in the field of herpes virology. In 1987, she produced a report that the herpes simplex genome can remain harbored in trigeminal ganglia. Cook mentored collaborators, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and technicians. She retired from UCLA in 1993.

Cook was a member of the LGBT community. She died on July 6, 2001. She was survived by her partner, Shirley Ashford, her sister Betty Gerkin, and 2 nephews. The Neptune Society conducted a burial at sea on August 4, 2001.