After a life of love and quiet grace, Michael R. Cooper of Woodbury, CT has passed.
Some stories deserve to be told slowly. This is one of them.
What is given freely returns in ways we cannot measure.
Michael Ross "Coop" Cooper, 78, a Waterbury native and longtime resident of Woodbury, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Pomperaug Woods in Southbury after a short illness. He was the husband of Mary Ann Martins.
He was born in Waterbury September 30, 1947, the son of Harold and Phyllis (Fidler) Cooper. He graduated from Crosby High School and earned his bachelor's degree in education at American International College (AIC) in Springfield, Massachusetts.
After graduating from college, Michael began his career in education as a special education teacher at a time when the field was still in its early stages. During this period, his father owned a women's clothing store, Cooper's, in Meriden. When a second location, Cooper's Country Casuals, opened in Glastonbury, Michael joined the family business to manage it. He later went on to run his own executive search firm, Cooper Ross, in Waterbury. In a fitting return to his roots, Michael ended his professional life, where it began, in education, leading a City of Waterbury training program that prepared hundreds of individuals for careers in the industrial trades.
Michael was a man of many passions, chief among them golf. Until his health declined, he was an avid player and competed on the Crosby and AIC golf teams, spending some of his happiest hours on the course with friends. He also had a deep love for dogs-from his Scotties, often described as "big man, little dogs," to the standard poodles that matched his stature. A gifted cook, Michael found great joy in preparing meals for family holidays.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Martins of Woodbury; two daughters from a first marriage and two grandchildren; his brother, B. Jay Cooper and his wife, Chris Black of Marion, Mass.; his sister, Nancy Gail Cooper of Waterbury and three nieces.
Michael's funeral will be private. Maiorano Funeral Home has been entrusted with all arrangements. Memorial contributions in Michael's name may be made to: St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, P.O. Box 1612, Waterbury, CT 06721 or online at svdpmission.org. To sign the online guestbook or to leave online condolences for the family, please visit maioranofuneralhome.com.
