Simon F. Cooper

Simon was born in 1945 in Surrey, England the son of John and Rosemary Cooper, and early-on felt the calling of places far and away. He started his professional career by finding passage to the Caribbean and within a few short years secured his first 'helm' as the captain of the Lord Jim. While his career would grow to extraordinary heights, there is no more fitting an image than him grinning at the wheel, expertly hosting an intimate group of guests, all feeling that he will confidently deliver them to their next adventure and sharing many laughs along the way.
Simon was known by all for his graciousness, warmth and his bright smile. His gift was to make another person the singular center of his attention and truly listen with interest and then to forever remember the small details he learned. In his storied career he crossed paths with hundreds of people daily and was known far and wide for that iconic empathetic interaction.
He found his calling in hospitality. His achievements, proudest moments and closest friends are intertwined with the story of his professional life and therefore his memory would be incomplete without recognizing his impressive work. His distinguished career as a hotelier spanned more than 50 years, three continents and five hotel brands. He was able to effortlessly and joyfully settle into myriad different cultures having lived in Canada, Israel, United States, Hong Kong and France and most recently grew to love working and developing projects in Costa Rica.
For 10 years Simon was president and COO of the Ritz Carlton brand globally and subsequently was named the first President of Asia Pacific when Marriott moved to a continental structure. Under his tenure, the region grew to 195 properties in 15 countries and territories. Earlier Simon had been President of Delta Hotels in Canada and was instrumental in helping to develop and promote Canadian tourism. He retired from corporate life in 2016 and settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. There he was able to enjoy retirement to the fullest with his many friends close-by.
No story of Simon would be complete without mentioning his many passions including his love of sailing, delight in playing and following rugby, avid cycling, lifelong enjoyment of golf and his diverse interest in history and global cultures.
Simon died on April 24, 2024 of complications from Leukemia after a two year struggle. Simon will be dearly missed by his wife of 50 years Marcelle; his siblings Chris and Lyn; his children Winkie, Susannah and Jason; as well as his four grandsons, Cole, Zachary, Benjamin and Evan.
Service is scheduled for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Simon's memory to the Hematologic Malignancies Translational Center of Excellence at Penn Medicine, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104 or at www.penncancer.org