Lilla Cooper
March 15, 2024
An avid collector and beloved friend to many, Lilla Cooper, age 96, of Easton, Connecticut, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family.
Lilla was raised in Newton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Martha and Joseph Blumenthal. She was a proud graduate of Vassar College, where she studied art history and philosophy. Upon graduation, Lilla married her husband of 66 years, Dr. Milton Cooper. Their marriage took them from Syracuse to San Diego to Rochester, Minnesota, where their two children Bruce and Scott were born. They moved to the Bridgeport area in 1956, and ultimately settled into their home in Easton, Connecticut, where Lilla remained until her passing.
Lilla was known for her energetic spirit, enthusiasm for life, and keen eye for a bargain. She delighted in sharing her tag sale finds (too numerous to count) with friends, family and visitors, and no one could leave her home empty-handed. She also loved her garden in Easton and relaxing in her country home in Springfield, Vermont, where all guests were instructed to memorialize their visit by signing the entryway wall.
For many years, Lilla was the coordinator of Arts with the Experts, a popular continuing education program at Fairfield University, where she reveled in sharing with others her passion for and expertise in the arts. She was a longtime volunteer for the American Cancer Society and served on the board of the Jewish Home for the Elderly (now known as Mozaic Senior Life in Bridgeport). She was an extraordinary homemaker who treasured her turn to host Gourmet Club dinners with a group of close friends. Lilla spent endless hours on the phone, keeping in touch with family and friends from all chapters of her life.
Lilla is survived by her sons Bruce (and his wife Kristi) of East Lyme, Connecticut, and Scott (and his wife Elizabeth) of Lexington, Massachusetts, her grandson Jonathan (and his wife Katherine), her granddaughter Madeline, her grandson Benjamin, and her great-grandson Shaw. She was predeceased by her husband, Milton, and her grandson, Matthew.
Lilla also leaves behind her countless friends and devoted family members who kept her young and vital until the last days of her life.
A private funeral service was officiated by Lilla’s granddaughter, Rabbi Madeline Cooper. Memorial contributions in Lilla’s honor may be made to Mozaic Senior Life, 4200 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604, or to Easton Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Inc., 1 Center Road, Easton, CT 06612.