Scott T. Cooper, 61, passed away on March 13, 2016, in Granville, Vermont. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on July 13, 1954, son of the late Richard A. Cooper and Joanna Mullenex Cooper of West Virginia.
He grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut, and graduated from Glastonbury High School in 1972 where he was a member of the wrestling team, an avid participant in the ski club and an active member of the Boy Scouts. He attended Nathaniel Hawthorne College and the University of Hartford.
Scott resided in Alaska from 1976 to 1988 partially to pursue the love of fishing, hunting and camping that he carried throughout his life. He was an accomplished skier, skilled in downhill, cross-country and backcountry. Scott always preferred to earn his turns rather than riding ski lifts and traveled the world in pursuit of adventure. During this time in Alaska he started his company, Alarm Technology, which he would run continually for the next 40 years.
Six years after returning to Connecticut, Scott married Valerie R. Becker in a ceremony held in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The couple resided in Ridgefield, Connecticut. They also had a home in Fayston, Vermont, for 12 years before relocating to Granville. Scott was a member of the ski patrol at Sugarbush for two seasons. He was a talented electrician, plumber and carpenter and put those skills to use in each place he lived. Scott was a kind, generous, honest man with a great sense of humor and keen wit. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Valerie Rick Becker Cooper of Ridgefield and Granville; his two Stepsons, Kenneth P. Becker of Berkeley, California, and Lawrence O. Becker of Brooklyn, New York; and his mother, Joanna M. Cooper of Nutter Fort, West Virginia; his aunt, Kay Gorgonio and her children of Clarksburg, West Virginia; his uncle, Frank Cooper and wife Dorothy of Enfield, Connecticut; his aunt, Ellen Gill and husband William of Mystic, Connecticut; his cousins, Ginny Cooper Harris of Dallas, Texas, Jeff Cooper of Enfield, Connecticut, and Pat Cooper Stanley of Skillman, New Jersey. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Mildred K. Rick of Sharon, Connecticut; brothers-in-law, Douglas W. Rick and Walter K. Rick, both of Sharon, Connecticut, and Jonathan A. Rick of Miami, Florida. Scott is also survived by his first wife, Jo Ellyn Grove of Fairbanks, Alaska. He was predeceased by his younger brother, Chad Cooper.
Donations may be received in Scott's memory to the National Parks Conservation Association, www.npca.org/donations, 777 6th Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001; or Catamount Trail Association, www.catamounttrail.org/donations, 1 Mill Street, Suite 350, Burlington, VT 05401.
The family will have a private memorial service.
