With a heavy heart, we share that on April 21, 2022, our precious Father, Ralph Stanley Cooper Sr. passed away unexpectedly of what appears to be sudden heart failure. There are no words to describe the pain and heartbreak we are feeling at this time. We just lost our Mother 7 months ago and continue to grieve for her, and now we have both parents to suffer for. The numbness we feel is overwhelming, and we are trying to figure out how to deal with their passing. Our Dad had the kindest, most extensive, sweetest heart and was loved by all who knew him and came in contact with him. No matter how people acted, he looked for kindness in people and literally "would give the shirt off his back” to help anyone! Our Dad retired from the City of Oakland Fire Department.  Being a Father and a Firefighter was his passion in life, and he was the best at both! He also was an Army Vietnam Veteran and served his country with dignity and respect. As you can see, his focus in life was always to give back to the community and our nation. He was a one-of-a-kind person who will never be forgotten for all his heroic services throughout his lifetime. Our Dad was a funny and intelligent person. He had a surprising ability to come up with just the goofiest jokes on a dime and deliver them like they were nothing. Jokes would make you laugh, and some will leave you shaking your head because they didn’t make sense or weren't funny. Sometimes, you would have thought he was a stand-up comedian in another lifetime. His character was genuine, and he touched the doctors and nurses who cared for him in the hospital during his last visit there. He continued to be himself and be comical with them as well. They shared this during his visits, and after his passing, and we were glad to hear he was in good spirits when he left this earth despite the pain and suffering. Above everything else, our Dad loved his family very much and was 'always' supportive of their needs. It’s impossible to overstate how loving, caring, and fun he was with his family.  Many have reached out to us asking to help. We need to lay our father to rest, and any monetary assistance is appreciated beyond measure. We will ensure that any donation will go to our Dad’s memorial services and any outstanding matters that he left behind unfinished. Please especially keep us, and his family, in your prayers as we need all the support we can to find the strength to get through this.

 

Peace and Blessings Tiffany and Stanley Cooper