Gerber’s original baby Ann Turner Cook dies

The original gerber babyAnn Turner Cook died on Friday, according to A An ad from Gerber on Instagram.

“Gerber is deeply saddened by the passing of Anne Turner Cook, the original Gerber child, whose face was painted to become the iconic Gerber logo over 90 years ago. Many years before she became an extraordinary mother, teacher, and writer, her smile and expressive curiosity captured hearts everywhere and will continue to be Living as a symbol for all children. Our deepest condolences go to Anne’s family and to anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing her,” read the announcement.

Cook, who was born in 1926, was only a few months old when artist and neighbor Dorothy Hope Smith painted her face using charcoal. In 1928, Gerber held a competition to find a face representing a baby food ad campaign, Smith entered her sketch of a beautiful, bright-eyed baby, stating that she would finish the drawing if she won, According to the Gerber website.

Smith won the competition, and Cook’s illustration remained a sketch that helped launch the Gerber brand. In 1991, Gerber adopted it as an official brand, According to their website. Since then, Baby Gerber has been featured on all of Gerber’s packaging and ads.

Cook’s identity was kept secret until 1978. The survey was conducted across the United States to guess the identity of the baby Gerberwith answers ranging from Elizabeth Taylor to Bob Dole.

“I was probably about 3 years old when my mom pointed to a baby food jar and said this is my picture,” Cook He told CBS Sunday Morning in 2013. “I thought it was a really nice thing.”