Lasting Memories

W. David Oke
1945-Feb. 8, 2010
Menlo Park, California

W. David Oke Jr. of Menlo Park died Feb. 8 of heart failure. He was 65.

Mr. Oke was a co-founder of the Roanoke Company, an advertising agency. For nearly four decades, he held a variety of positions with the company, including creative director, art director, editor and product supervisor, and, ultimately, president of the agency.

The Roanoke Company provided public service advertising, political consulting and public relations for environmental causes. Roanoke conceived and produced all media for the CHP's motorcycle safety campaign. The company also pioneered a "designated driver" approach to reduce drunken driving accidents, says a company spokesperson. Recently, Mr. Oke was campaign manager for the successful campaign of Dolores Carr for district attorney of Santa Clara County.

Mr. Oke was born in Michigan and grew up in Southern California. He graduated from Santa Clara University in 1966 and earned a master's degree from Stanford University in communications, broadcasting, and film specialization. He married Lorraine Luther of Los Altos in 1984. They recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at Point Lobos, where they met. He was a coach in his son's youth basketball league, and co-founder of Friends of the River. He was also an avid fisherman and sports enthusiast with a wonderful sense of humor, say family members.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; son Adam; mother Hilda; sister Sherry; aunt Jo Harlow; and many friends and family members.