Douglas Victor Crook

Douglas Victor Crook of Manasquan passed away peacefully on September 13, 2024 at Complete Care in Ocean Grove, NJ, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Born April 11, 1945 to Harry and Elthea Knoder Crook in Santurce, Puerto Rico, where his father managed the Lock Joint Pipe Company, he grew up in Manhattan.

Blessed with multiple abilities, Douglas studied archeology at NYU; Russian, children’s theater, and physics at Monmouth University; and drawing at the Maryland Institute. He was an avid photographer who, at age 16, won an award for “Best Photo from the Staten Island Ferry” and also had an encyclopedic knowledge of pop and classical music. And his resume, including stints as artist’s assistant, market researcher, legal aide, purchasing agent, and editor/copywriter, reflected his diverse gifts. On moving to Manasquan in 1992, he opened a graphics design agency, Metamorphosis, with clients including UNICEF. In 2000 he joined the Health Sciences and Nursing department at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ, where he helped create the first departmental database.

Douglas is survived by wife Barbara, daughters Ashley Kujan of Boca Raton, FL, and Kate Crook of Burlington, VT, and sister Phyllis Crook, of Loveland, CO. Much loved for his kindness, infectious warm smile, wonderful sense of humor, and unfailing positive energy, he will be greatly missed.

Services are entrusted to Jersey Shore Cremation, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manasquan, NJ.