Don Edward Cooper (Coop) of Sterling, Virginia passed away October 28, 2023. Don's wife, Suzanne, and his two children, Nicole, and Sean, were by his side.

Coop was the son of the late Harold David Cooper and the late Audrey Brown Cooper. Coop spent his formative years in Pittsburgh before his family relocated to Kansas City where he graduated from Pembroke Country Day School.

Growing up in Pittsburgh made Coop an avid fan of all Pittsburgh teams. However, it was his unwavering passion… some might even call it rabid enthusiasm, for Penn State's sports teams that truly described him in the eyes of those who knew him. Coop's high school buddy played a significant role in his inspiration to attend American University in Washington D.C. where he forged lasting friendships but his years of going to PSU games with his parents and friends continued to stay with him even as he played baseball for American U.

Coop's life was enriched by numerous passions that brought him a great deal of joy and camaraderie and skiing was right at the top. Throughout the years Coop would spend his fall and winter working at the Ski Chalet (now Sun and Ski) and had an infectious enthusiasm for each upcoming ski season and the meticulous planning of future ski adventures. The annual shop trip became a cherished tradition to cap off the season. Suzanne shared his love for skiing.… which added lots of extra points to the "pros" of their relationship when they began dating. Countless unforgettable ski journeys were shared with friends and family over the years. Even recently he lamented about that fateful day when Nicole and Sean went to the "dark" side and became snowboarders, but even so, one of his most cherished memories was when he and Sean hiked Gold Hill in Telluride together.

As the weather warmed, Coop's passion for golf came to the forefront. He developed a love for the courses he played in Arizona while visiting family and friends. The sheer beauty of the surroundings never failed to captivate him. His visions of life when he and Suzanne were both retired invariably included more rounds of golf and learning to be as patient with his own game as he was with Suzanne's limited proficiency.

Perhaps another passion that most will remember him by was his deep affection for preparing exquisite dishes and pairing them with exceptional wines. He was truly a remarkable cook and took immense pleasure and pride in sharing his culinary masterpieces with friends and family and imparting his knowledge and tips with Nicole. It was always a fun show to witness him skillfully employing a blowtorch to caramelize his homemade crème brûlée. In the kitchen, Don and Suzanne shared a beautiful synergy; he worked his culinary magic, most of the time using practically every dish and pan in the kitchen, and she made sure everything was cleaned and put back in place.

If you asked him what he was most proud of he would undoubtedly tell you it was his children. His life took on a greater meaning and it became brighter and more vibrant whenever he was with them. He coached their sports teams, taught them to ski and golf, always showed enthusiasm for Nicole's animals, worried endlessly about Sean's sport injuries and taught them deep authentic passion for the things that you love in your life.

Don is survived by his wife and children, his brother Grier (Carolyn) Cooper, their son Grant Cooper (Rachel) and his family, his sister, Rita (Jim) Russ and their children, Jim (Tina), Kristin (Jack), Brett (Lisa) and their families.  He is also survived by His father-in-law Philip Couture, his brothers-in-law, Paul (Robin) Couture, David Couture and Peter (Anne) Couture and their families.

Don (Coop) will be missed by the many people whose lives he has touched.