Captain Charlie Cooper

[george]

It is with deep sadness that I post the passing of Captain Charlie Cooper, former member of L-18 and the brothers from 2nd Street E-28 & L-11

[Fort Pitt]

That is truly sad news. Captain Cooper was one of the nicest people I've ever met.

This is his obituary from the Staten Island Advance. R.I.P.

CHARLES COOPER, 76
Fire captain cared for his fish pond
Sunday, June 01, 2008
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Charles David Cooper, 76, a Staten Island native and retired Fire Department captain, died Friday at home.

Born and raised in West Brighton, he lived in Eltingville for 47 years. Mr. Cooper and his wife moved to Middletown, N.J., last October.

Mr. Cooper graduated from Curtis High School in 1951 and went on to receive a fire science degree from the City University of New York's John Jay College in Manhattan.

He was passionate about his job as a firefighter for the FDNY, where he worked for 25 years in Manhattan. He became a captain in 1980, and a year later he transferred to Staten Island at Engine Co. 166, Graniteville, where he was stationed until retiring in 1992.

Mr. Cooper served in the U.S. Army's military police in Korea from 1952 to 1954, during the Korean War.

In addition to his career, he also enjoyed caring for his fish pond, which he dug, lined and decorated outside his Eltingville home himself. Every day, he fed the 20 koi fish in his pond.

He enjoyed playing and watching football, especially the New York Giants. He loved spending time with his family around the house.

"He loved his family and was devoted to them," said his wife of 55 years, the former Marie Reeder.

In addition to his wife Marie, he is survived by two daughters, Donna Ahearn and Christine Esposito; his brother, Jack; and seven grandchildren. The funeral will be Tuesday from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville, with a service in the New Dorp Moravian Church. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.