Biola Grieves

A dedication of flowers and a mounted photo of Clyde Cook stood underneath the bell tower Monday while it played hymns continuously as a place of memorial for students and faculty.

Kelsey Heng

The usual classic hymns emanating from the Bell Tower seemed different today; the notes were long, tired, and mournful, as though they too had been affected by the news of President Emeritus Clyde Cook’s death.

Underneath the bells was a small dedication to the beloved man—a wreath of flowers with the words “We Love You” draped across it, next to a large mounted picture of Cook smiling. A lady in a green shirt, deep in conversation, stared at the photo as she walked by, and two female students looked at it and pointed, whispering. Though the news of his death isn’t shocking anymore, it is still fresh, affecting even students who didn’t know him directly.

“When I first heard, it was really sad—it seemed really unexpected,” said Kristy Cooper, a junior business major.

Cooper said that while she never really talked to him, she used to pass him every Monday during her freshman year. Cook would be on his way to chapel while she was on her way to class, and he would say hi.

“It was just little instances,” Cooper said, describing how he impacted the school. “Just him being around.”

Cook’s life is being commemorated in many different ways. At Monday morning’s chapel, it was announced that there would be three memorial services for students to attend. A candlelight service was held Monday night. Other services will be held at Evangelical Free Church, Saturday at 11 a.m., and a Biola University memorial service will be held at Chase Gymnasium at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 21.

Students are also remembering their beloved president in less conventional ways. A Facebook group entitled “We will miss you Clyde!!!” currently has a climbing membership of 724 people. A section of the group description reads:

“In memory of Dr. Cook….we’ll always remember you as an honorable man of God and a greatly respected leader of the Biola community. We will miss seeing your kind-hearted smile and having your noble, graceful presence around campus.”

Students have written fond memories on the group’s wall, many of them remembering his humility and graciousness.

“He was never too good or too important to talk to anyone. He served with humility. What an amazing man— there does not seem to be too many good role-models these days. Clyde Cook is one of the few,” Alumnus Stephen Muff wrote.

Back at the Bell Tower, an elderly man slowly walked over to the dedication and stopped in front of it, just staring. This man was 86 year-old Dr. Duane Wetzler, a retired Spanish professor who first met Cook in 1957 when Biola was still in downtown Los Angeles. Wetzler was the acting Dean of Men, and he shared an office with the young Cook in the basement of the Church of the Open Door.

He said he remembered being invited to dinner at the Cook’s house with the newlyweds and then going to watch a Dodger’s baseball game at the Coliseum.

While their paths parted in 1958, Cook and Wetzler eventually both came back to teach at Biola. Though they weren’t close friends, Wetzler remembers the president emeritus fondly.

“He was a great fellow…very intelligent and sharp. He was quick on the humor—he remembered incidents like nobody I’ve ever known.”

And, as with most Biola students, it was the little things, like Cook’s friendly salutations, that Wetzler remembered.

“He would almost always greet me in Spanish. I called him Señor Presidente—Mr. President,” Wetzler said laughing.

Wetzler said that Cook’s death was unexpected.

“It hasn’t hit me…he’s young—he’s only 72, I passed 72 a long time ago.”

Wetzler wasn’t the only person who was taken aback by the news of Cook’s death. Mimi Jankhaow said that she was surprised and saddened when she found out.

“I always see him on campus, greeting people, smiling—being optimistic. I don’t know him, but it’s still really sad,” said Jankhaow, who learned of his passing on Facebook.

Cook was also respected and loved by Biola faculty.

“One of the things I really appreciated about Dr. Cook is the example of a man who’s faithful to his wife. He always showed such care for her, even publicly,” Dr. Berding, a New Testament professor, said. Berding also mentioned that he admired that Cook finished so strongly, because it is easy to grow distant from the Lord toward the end of life.

And though he is greatly missed, Biola students like junior Gabi del Castillo are content with the timing of Cook’s death.

“I feel at peace about it,” said Castillo. “ I see the impact He had on this school … I was so glad he was here to see us celebrate 100 years.”