John Cooper III ’43

John died Sept. 7, 2021, in Portland, Ore., with his wife, Joan, by his side. 

The son of John C. Cooper Jr. 1909 and Martha Marvel Cooper, Coop was raised in Jacksonville, Fla., and Princeton and prepped at Exeter Academy, where he played hockey and tennis and worked on publications. In 1942, John left Princeton to join the Eighth Air Force Division, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He attended Columbia University after the war, finishing his degree in 1948. He also wrote a well-received novel at that time, The Gesture, about a B-17 squadron during 1943. 

In 1952 John earned a law degree from New York Law School. During those years, John also worked as an editor and a teacher, and flew with the Flying Tigers airline during the Korean War.

In 1953 John married Joan (Smith ’51), and together they raised four children. In 1966 John joined the Holly Sugar Corp., serving as counsel and secretary until retirement.

John made it back to two reunions and was a loyal contributor to our reunion yearbooks. He had a lifelong passion for writing plays and fiction, which he pursued late into his 90s. 

John is survived by his wife of 68 years, Joan; children John (Zaida), Katherine, Daniel, and Monte (Anne Boutin); granddaughter Sonrisa; many members of his extended family; and countless friends. The class extends its profound sympathy to them all.