Ann Turner Cook, famous infant model AKA "The Gerber Baby," has passed away at age 95.
Her story is an interesting case of accidental, even reluctant branding. The identity of the Gerber baby was a secret for years. Ann didn't openly share her backstory, either.
Interesting facts:
Ann was a retired school teacher, a widow living in Florida
Ann's father, Bethel, was an illustrator, but...
...Ann's baby image was sketched by a family neighbor, Dorothy Hope Smith
The artist submitted what she thought of as an unfinished sketch, but Gerber liked it as was
The Gerber baby's image has sold baby food by the billions
The baby model accepted a settlement payment of $5,000 in 1951, the only compensation she received during the 90+ years Gerber has used the image
Gerber HQ has a quiet presence in Fremont, Michigan [with plans to relocate to Arlington, Virginia]
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