NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / A photo of Edgewater Councilman Ted Cooper is displayed on the dais in front of the chair he occupied in the council chambers, along with his name plate and flowers following his memorial service Tuesday.EDGEWATER -- Myron Hammond returned to his creaky chair at his Edgewater Towing garage, jumping on the phone and choking back tears as he checked on parts for a customer.
Minutes earlier, he had returned from a memorial service for Councilman Ted Cooper, the silver-haired gentleman, whose life was cut short at 61 from a massive heart attack six days earlier.
For Hammond and close to 150 mourners at the Edgewater Alliance Church, the close of the service meant it was time to move forward -- that life goes on.
Christine Perrin, a friend of Cooper's companion, Barb Kowall, didn't pull any punches on how Cooper lived his life and died; and why moving on was what he would the living to do.
At 62, Cooper dropped dead in his yard while talking to a neighbor, literally falling over; the victim of a sudden massive coronary. As cold as that sounds, Perrin eloquently explained one man's love of life and the pitfalls that came with it.
"In life as in death, Ted was true to his words," said Perrin of New Smyrna Beach. "Barb tried for the last five or six years to convince Ted to hire a lawn service and for the last five or six years the reply was always the same: ' Barbie, I am not going to hire a lawn service!' And while laughing, he would say 'Don't worry honey, if I drop dead in the yard, I'll be sure that I have the yard work done first' and so he did."
"In life as in death, Ted was true to his words," said Perrin of New Smyrna Beach. "Barb tried for the last five or six years to convince Ted to hire a lawn service and for the last five or six years the reply was always the same: ' Barbie, I am not going to hire a lawn service!' And while laughing, he would say 'Don't worry honey, if I drop dead in the yard, I'll be sure that I have the yard work done first' and so he did."
Cooper, elected as a councilman in 2007, and a Vietnam veteran and big-time supporter of the Edgewater Animal Sherlter, as well as a public figure not afraid to speak his mind, was remembered by fellow Councilwoman Gigi Bennington as a politician who welcomed public input -- who "would have loved seeing the chamber filled" with a standing room-only crowd the night before when the council had a memorial of its own for him the night before.
Dignitaries from across Volusia County attended Cooper's service, among them, New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett and a forer Edgewater city employee, who broke down crying when she told NSBNews.net, "Besides being an elected official, Ted was an artist and a humanitarian -- a wonderful human being."
County Council members Joie Alaxander of Port Orange and Pat Northey of Deltona, agreed Cooper was not one to back down from what his principles.
"He was passionate, very passionate about what he believed in," Alexander said.
NoraJane Gillespie, a representative of the League of Women Voters for Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach, was even more direct: "I think of Ted as a caring pit bull for the citizens."
Agnes Witter, a member of Edgewater's planning and zoning board likened Cooper to Santa Claus: "All year long he would be caring and sharing."
Longtime city resident Mike Visconti said Cooper had gone from walking Edgewater's streets for his fellow man to walking the streets of Heaven."
At he memorial service, Barlow recited a poem in Cooper's honor, "The Day God Called you Home," from Journey of Hearts, which reads as follows:
God looked around his garden and found an empty place. He then looked down upon his earth and saw your loving face.
He put His arms around you and lifted you to resty. His garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering, he knew you were in pain. And knew that you would never get well on earth again.
He saw your path was difficult, he closed your tired eyes, He whispered to you "peace by thine" and gave you wings to fly.
When we saw you sleeping so calm and free of pain, we would not wish you back to earth to suffer oncve again.
You left us precious memories, your love will be our guide, you live on through your children, you're always by our side.
It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone. For part of of us went with you on the day God called you home.
Editor's Note: Cooper's seat will remain empty for at least six to eight weeks, his name plate given to his loved ones. The city will hold a special election sometime between Jan. 30 and Feb. 28.
Here is NSBNews.net's initial breaking news coverage of Ted Cooper's death: http://nsbnews.net/content/407734-edgewater-city-commissioner-ted-cooper-dies-massive-coronary-age-61
Because Cooper was an avid motorcycle rider, NSBNews.net dedicates the closing song from the 1969 movie "Easy Rider" in his memory and our love and condolences to his family and friends:
