Stephen W. Cooper

August 17, 1947 - January 15, 2016
Stephen W. Cooper

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Stephen W. Cooper, 68, of Hendersonville passed away Friday, January 15, 2016 at his home.  He was born August 17, 1947 in Camden, NJ, to the late William & Lois (Wesley) Cooper.  He grew up in Phoenixville, PA and also resided in Dayton, OH, San Francisco and San Jose, CA, Cape Cod, MA, Richardson, TX and Albuquerque, NM.   In addition to his parents his brother, David, precedes him in death.

Mr. Cooper served in the United States Air Force in Medical Services Administration at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio from 1969 – 1973. He met his wife Alice, while he was stationed there.

He graduated with a BA in Business Administration from Grove City College, PA in 1969 and a BSEE & Master’s in Business Administration from the University of NM in 1977 and 1978.

Steve was interested in projects that were technically challenging.  Once a project was finished, he was ready for a different one.  A favorite saying was “Specialization is for insects” by Robert Heinlein.  He worked for The Pueblo of Santa Anna in NM, planning and implementing a unique intranet and VOIP phone system from 2000-2005.  He planned and implemented new product introductions for Samsung Telecommunications in Plano, TX from 1997-99.  While working with the Systems Engineering Society in Osterville, MA from 1994-97, one of their projects was working with the Canadian Federal Government, introducing the Internet to the Inuit (Connecting Nunavik Project).  Another was providing communications support for the International Arctic Project and the Weber-Malakhov Expedition to the North Pole. He set up U.S. operations for Taiwanese startup, ALFA Inc. of Hsinchu, Taiwan in Hyannis, MA from 1992-94.  Some of his earlier jobs were as product manager with Fibronics International in Hyannis, MA; strategic marketing manager with AMD in Sunnyvale, CA; and product line analyst with TRW Vidar in Sunnyvale, CA.

Around 2000 Steve became interested in Barbershop singing.  He sang in two choruses in Albuquerque, NM, the New Mexichords, Duke City Sound and in several different quartets.  After moving to NC he joined Land of the Sky chorus in Asheville and also sang with the 50’s and 60’s style Doo-wop group, “Sh-Boom”. He enjoyed attending the NC Harmony Brigade every January.  Before he started singing Barbershop, he sang in his church choir.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Alice (Smith) Cooper; son, Sean of Millbury, MA; daughter, Erin and her husband Rian Black of Charleston, SC; six grandsons, William, James, Noah and Isaac Cooper, Logan and Benjamin Black.

Private burial will take place at Western Carolina State Veteran’s Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.

 


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  • January 30, 2016
    Jeffrey Grodell says:
    Memories of laughter and enjoyment will always be my thoughts Steve, may your family and friends always have peace, eternal rest to you.