Henry Cooper

1931 - 2025

Henry M Cooper

Henry Martin Cooper was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He left this world on October 21, 2025 at the age of 94.



He was born to Isobel Hagan and Henry Cooper on August 11, 1931 in New York. Henry attended Chaminade High School and went on to Seton Hall University on a basketball scholarship, where he was a proud member of the 1952–1953 NIT championship team that earned him a spot in the SHU Athletic Hall of Fame.



After graduation, Henry served his country in the United States Army as a military policeman at Fort Knox. In 1955, he married the love of his life, Pauline (Mullman), his wife of 62 years, who preceded him in death. Together they built a life in Barrington, RI and raised seven children. Henry dedicated more than 50 years to a career in the insurance finance industry, where he opened and led the Providence, RI office of Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance (later Mass Mutual).



One of Henry's greatest joys was his family-his children: Suzanne Dias (Bill), Kathleen Barth (Rich), Marie Liberty, Thomas Cooper, Philip Cooper (deceased), Stephen Cooper (Christine), and Christine Michalski (Noel). He was a faithful Catholic, attending St. Luke's Church in Barrington, RI, participating as a Sunday reader and as a CYO basketball coach and later was a daily mass attendee at Our Lady of Grace in Avon Park, FL. Henry and Pauline moved to Florida in 2005, where golf with RICC snowbirds became his favorite pastime. Henry was first drawn to golf as a young caddy, and he continued to play golf well into his 90s and could always be counted on to share a story about his game. He had a gift for storytelling and often shared his experiences-even the challenges-with a positive light.



Henry was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Maureen Gilbride, his wife Pauline, and his son Philip. He is survived by his children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.



A funeral mass will be held at St. Luke's Church in Barrington, RI on Friday, November 7 at 10 AM with burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Riverside, RI. Donations can be sent online to Seton Hall University (Student Support) and condolences can be sent to HenryCoopersFamily@gmail.com