Peter A. Coppola

Peter A. Coppola, 66, of Bald Hill Road, local writer and town historian, died Thursday, October 23, after an illness.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, H. Perry (Little) Coppola; his daughter, Rebecca C. "Beckett" Coppola of Newton; his son, John Lafayette G. Coppola of North Falmouth; his mother, Charlotte E. (McMorrow) Coppola of Douglas; and many relatives on both family sides. Peter was predeceased by his father, Anthony H. Coppola in 1990; his sister, Madeline Coppola in 2002; and daughter-in-law, Shannon Keefe Coppola, who died this year.

Peter was born in Milford, MA on November 15, 1941, and he has lived in Douglas most of his life. He recently reflected that this autumn season reminded him of walking through the Douglas woods and hunting as a child with his father. During his 20's and early 30's Peter lived in Cambridge, MA, Provincetown, MA, and in Germany.

Peter was a graduate of Douglas Memorial High School in 1959 and Boston University, along with his wife Perry, in 1969, earning a BA in English and Anthropology. He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. He was employed as an English and History Teacher for the Manter Hall School in Cambridge, MA and then taught English in Germany. He was an editor for Educators Publishing Service (EPS) in Cambridge, and later co-founded the Douglas Herald newspaper. He worked at the Blackstone Valley News Tribune and contributed writings for many publications as a columnist, a poet, and he also wrote stories and a novella. Peter was a carpenter and woodworker, and was the architect and builder of the house he and his family have lived in since 1974. He was an avid photographer, amateur racecar driver, painter, gardener, and loved to cook having recently taking up the baking of pastries. He had been involved with local community theater group The Pickwick Players as both a director and a player.

Peter pursued his love of American History through Civil War reenactments playing the part of a Confederate soldier. He was an avid reader, and the staff of the Douglas Public Library often searched for books he might like and would request and hold them on his behalf. Peter was co-editor of Time and the Town: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas Massachusetts. He was a life member of the Blackstone Valley Beagle Club and a member of the Worcester Art Museum. Peter had a lifelong passion for pursuing knowledge, and had even in the past six months begun a study of world history in film as presented by the filmmakers of Hollywood and beyond.

A Memorial Celebration of Life for Peter will be held Wednesday, October 29 at Jackman Funeral Home, 7 Mechanic Street, Douglas MA from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Peter A. Coppola Memorial Book Fund, c/o Simon Fairfield Public Library, 290 Main Street/PO Box 607, Douglas, MA 01516.

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