James Cooper, fought pulmonary fibrosis

James Bracken Cooper, 61, a retired software professional who lived at 49 Lakeside Drive, died on Monday, March 29, at Danbury Hospital as a result of lung disease. The husband of Karen Kröyer Cooper, he was a longtime Newtown resident who moved to Ridgefield in 2002.
He was a 1960 graduate of Newtown High School and Post College. He later served in the Army Signal Corps and was a volunteer fireman with Newtown Hook & Ladder.
He worked in the software industry for almost 30 years, serving companies such as Burroughs, IBM, and Wang until his retirement in 2002.
He was involved in Newtown youth sports, coaching soccer and Little League baseball. He was an avid skier who had worked as a professional ski instructor, and also enjoyed hiking, fishing and the ocean. He was a member of the Fairfield County Fish and Game Protective Association in Monroe and of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
In later years he was active in the fight against pulmonary fibrosis, helping drug companies develop new treatments, counseling others who suffered form the disease, and working to get Connecticut to declare a statewide awareness week.
He will be greatly missed, family and friends said.
Besides his wife he is survived by a brother, David C. Cooper; two sons, Glenn H. Cooper and Scott C. Cooper; a daughter, Suzanne C. Cooper; and step-children Kirsten E. Karlan, Justen A. Annunziato and Taegen M. Annunziato; and a step-grandchild, Leah Grace Karlan.
Calling hours will be today, Thursday, April 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Honan Funeral Home on 58 Main Street, Newtown. The funeral service will be Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the Honan Funeral Home.
Contributions in his memory may be made to The Coalition to Fight Pulmonaray Fibrosis, 1685 Barnham Lane, suite 227, San Jose, Calif., 95118.