Arthur Joseph Lawrence Cooper, a resident of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, passed away suddenly on May 30, 2024 following a cardiac event. He was 78 years old. Arthur was born on April 19, 1946 in London, England to the late Arthur William and Anne (Ellul) Cooper.
Arthur was Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Touro/NY Medical College in Valhalla, NY, editor-in-chief of the journal Analytical Biochemistry, Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry in Neuroscience at Feill Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, and he consulted with the Orentreich Foundation in Cold Spring, as well as with other scientists.
He received a B.Sc. at London University (Northern Polytechnic) in 1967, an M.Sc. degree from Imperial College in 1969, a PhD. in Biochemistry from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1974, and an honorary D.Sc. from London University given by Princess Anne in 1986. He specialized in the workings of metabolic enzymes, and was passionate about his work which resulted in many publications that are still being quoted by scientists around the world. (for those in the know, Research Gate reports his h-index at 61).
Besides science and his family, Arthur’s loves were gardening and running. He ran raising money for charities in both the New York and London marathons, and in the Harry Chapin Race in Croton. He created a beautiful garden full of hostas, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, and other flowers loved by his wife. He enjoyed growing vegetables in the summer and maintaining the pool. Arthur joked that his wife was his “domestic goddess” and she would retort that he was her “gardener and pool boy”. He was a soccer fan and acted as a referee for his sons’ AYSO games. Arthur was also a regular blood and platelet donor and a volunteer judge at numerous high school science fairs over the years. He was working on an autobiography over the past year, and completed eleven chapters.
He loved spending time with his family and found opportunities to visit his relatives as often as possible, whether that meant a drive to Ithaca to watch his grandchildren play in a sporting event, or a flight to England to visit with his brothers, nieces, and nephews. In everything he did, Arthur worked towards bettering the future for others. He devoted his career to advancing science and medical research to better understand diseases such as cancer in the hopes of someday contributing towards a cure. He acted as a mentor to many other scientists and students over the years.
Arthur is survived by his wife Donna of 51 yr., daughter Caroline Elizabeth Brockner, sons Robert Arthur and John William Cooper, grandchildren Jeremiah. Julian, and Jade Brockner, and brothers John E. Cooper, and Les Cooper.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at the Edward F. Carter Funeral Home (41 Grand Street in Croton 0n Hudson) at 2 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to the Harry Chapin Run for Hunger or to the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation.
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