Francis "Frank, Fran" Xavier Cooper

Passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 29, 2014 at age 69

Beloved husband of Nancy; Devoted father of Michelle, Matt, and stepdaughter Hillary Taylor; Loving Pops of grandchildren, Alex, Will, & Owen, and Maya & Ryane Taylor; Cherished brother of Esther Makar (George), Geraldine O'Connor, Tom (Linda), John (Chris), Steve (Patty), Meg Brindle (Ron Layton); Caring brother in law of Barb and Joan Mabon, and Eileen Paley; stepbrother of William Reich (Barb), Richard Reich (Mary), and Diane Reich; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Predeceased in death by parents, John and Esther, stepfather, William Reich, and first wife, Karen, and infant, Francis.

Frank grew up in the "house on McNair Street", Wilkinsburg, with his parents and 6 siblings. He attended St. James Elementary School and Central Catholic High School (1963) and 50+ years later still got together regularly with St. James friends for lunch and CHS buddies at Ritter's Friday breakfasts. He graduated from Slippery Rock University (1967) and was drafted into the army where he spent 2 years mostly in Edgewood Arsenal, Baltimore. He traveled to Europe with an army buddy before landing his first job at Alcoa where he worked for 33 years in Information Technology as a project manager in the Sales and Marketing Department while earning an MBA from Duquesne University. He married his first wife, Karen, in 1971, and they raised Michelle and Matt in the North Hills of Pittsburgh.

Frank was an avid tennis player at Valleybrook, Lakeview, Greentree, and mostly recently with the group that played at Shaler High School.

He married Nancy in 1999. They enjoyed hosting family gatherings and welcomed the births of 5 grandchildren. They both retired in 2002, and traveled both domestically and internationally, hiked, biked, ballroom danced, cross country skied, and belonged to bridge/dinner groups.

Frank, ever generous and fair minded, volunteered in many ways. He was an active member of Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church, Financial Secretary most recently, but also volunteered with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, delivered Meals on Wheels, and helped out on work projects. He mentored CMU students in technology programs and was a Democratic committee man in McCandless. He also volunteered at the Habitat Restore when it opened in Pittsburgh.

Frank lived fully every day of his life even during the 16 months of his time with a Glioblastoma brain tumor and always had a smile on his face, a quick wit, a kind word, a love of family, and many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations for brain tumor research:

The Musella Foundation, 1100 Peninsula Blvd., Hewlett, New York 11527

Or online: virtualtrials.com/cooper