Over the summer a permanent legacy to honor Dr. Wendy P. Crook (pictured right) and her family was established in the form of the endowed Violet Crook Graduate Scholarship. In November 2006, Dr. Crook pledged a donation to begin the scholarship. Tragically, Dr. Crook passed away in October 2007 at age 55 from cancer before the scholarship could be endowed. Two other donations were made to the scholarship in her memory, but it was not until her mother Frances Laskey secured the endowment of the scholarship her daughter began, leaving $25,000 in 2013 to ensure that the scholarship would be there to support future social work doctoral students.

During her 11 years with the college, Professor Wendy Crook served as the Director of the Institute for Family Violence Studies followed by her role as Doctoral Program Director.  Along with her commitment to social work higher education, Dr. Crook was a passionate advocate for the homeless, particularly women who were victims of violence and became homeless. She served in a leadership role with Big Bend Homeless Coalition (BBHC) and made such an impact that the BBHC family dorm was named in her honor.

“Wendy made it her mission to stimulate interest not only in social policy, but administration and organizational practice as well.  Wendy had done it all. She was extremely enthusiastic about interesting students in those aspects of working with organizations and communities that they often overlooked,” Professor Linda Vinton remarked about her friend and colleague. “Wendy was many students’ champion.  She was beyond compare when it came to supporting students, not only SPA students, but doctoral students when she was the Director of the Doctoral Program.  And she encouraged many students to work with persons who were homeless. That is the other area where Wendy made her mark.”

Also in her memory, the College of Social Work established the Wendy P. Crook Service Project.  The College, in collaboration with the BBHC, puts on an annual community service project to continue Dr. Crook’s mission to end homelessness. Dr. Tomi Gomory and his students spearhead this initiative and continue to have a positive impact on the Tallahassee homeless community.

“We became close friends and shared a passion for the welfare of the homeless. I had run homeless programs before becoming an academic,” Dr. Gomory stated about continuing the College and Dr. Crook’s commitment to employ community-based homelessness targeted initiatives at CSW. “I have tried to carry on her deep commitment to these issues in Tallahassee, most recently by pulling together a research team of doctoral and master’s students under the banner of the ‘Renaissance Community Center Research Project,’ funded by a private foundation to explore an innovative local service delivery model.”

To learn more about how you can get involved in the College’s initiatives to fight homelessness contact Dr. Tomi Gomory (tgomory@fsu.edu).

And, to find out more about how you can support the Violet Crook Graduate Scholarship or other social work scholarships, contact Colette Podgorski (cpodgorski@foundation.fsu.edu).

Wendy Crook: A Poem

A group poem for Wendy Crook created by the faculty and staff of the FSU College of Social Work (Fall 2007).

Wonderful Wendy.
Warm, compassionate, friend;
sharing knowledge and passion,
to assist and defend.
Loving laughter, enjoys the beach and sea,
in our hearts you will always be.

 A kindness
and an unwavering optimism
with a passion for the disadvantaged,
an uncanny ability to see the big picture
when everyone else is bogged down in petty details,
one of the nicest people I know.

Always a voice of calm and reason,
especially in the heat of the moment.
Stating her point
and standing her ground.
a true ambassador she’s been
for FSU and social work education.

A forceful gale of inspiration,
a gentle breeze of tenderheartedness,
a refreshing gust of laughter;
forever- fluttering.

Utmost passion, devotion,
and commitment to the poor,
the biggest heart always giving, giving, giving more.

Lover of eccentric fiction.
That alter ego “Pearl,” we know her well…..
Just wish she’d come out more in meetings.

Smiling eyes express her caring.
Thoughts and ideas she is always sharing.
Her enthusiasm has no bounds.
A better colleague and friend cannot be found.

From someone who didn’t know the difference
between a quarterback and a quarter-pounder,
you became a devoted Nole,
whose spirit does not flounder.
New Jersey in her roots and voice,
FSU in her heart of hearts.

I drank your drink when I didn’t even know you
and thank you for all your generous acts,
large and small, ever since.

You hosted my first trip here
and made me smile the whole time.
Our families grew close; our friendship blossomed
and it’s good to be able to express it in this rhyme.

You welcomed me at our first meeting
on a beautiful fall day at Wakulla Springs,
such an appealing person you are
with the wonderful laugh,
the openness, the intelligence, the joie de vivre.

I have heard your name many times
usually relating all your hard work
and the opportunities
that you have provided for others.

Your smile and your kind words, thoughts, and deeds
are examples for the young and the old.
Your spirit is worth more than gold.
Your life and work has meant so much to so many.
Your heart is big and has room for plenty.

Working with you has touched me in a special way.
I smile when I think of you throughout my day.
You are an angel to me.
Your warm friendship
embraced me from the moment we met.
Your free spirit will inspire me for the rest of my days.

You have taught us,
through word and deed,
that social policy and administration
are human things,
that relationships matter,
and above all,
the stories of our lives prevail.