David H. Hooper

DAVID H. HOOPER David Hooper passed away on October 20, 2008 following a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. He died peacefully at his home in Cos Cob surrounded by loving family and friends with whom he had recently celebrated his 70th birthday. Born in London on October 1, 1938, David attended Forrest School and Nottingham University. He spent several years in the British Army's Intelligence Corps stationed in Osnabruck, Germany, before opting for civilian life and a career in marketing and advertising. He joined the advertising agency Ogilvy Benson & Mather in London in 1964, and later ran the Agency's offices in both East and West Africa. In 1977 he was appointed for a three-year term as Director of Development for the World Wildlife Fund International Headquarters based in Morges, Switzerland. Working in partnership with the UN's International Union for the Conservation of Nature, he developed global fundraising campaigns for the protection of endangered wildlife in Africa and Asia. David moved to the United States in 1980 and married advertising executive Penny Erikson. They have made their home in Cos Cob, Connecticut ever since. He joined Westport Marketing Group where he was instrumental in creating the plan for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, undertaken in celebration of Lady Liberty's 100th birthday. Working with President Reagan's administration, he ran the corporate and individual fundraising campaigns which resulted in the restoration and renovation of these magnificent landmarks in which we take so much pleasure and pride today. David was a gifted raconteur who regaled all who knew him with many memorable stories and jokes. His talent at the piano, along with a true passion for food and cooking, made evenings at his and Penny's home a true delight. He was a skilled sailor and yachtsman, a member of Riverside Yacht Club whose great joy was taking his children and grandchildren for rides on the Long Island Sound aboard Blithe Spirit. His other life passion was his dogs, in particular his dear Black Lab Lily who had the good fortune of travelling to Florida to be with David and Penny this past winter in Naples. David is survived by his beloved wife Penny; his son Matthew Hooper of London, England and daughter Caroline Clements of Old Greenwich from his first marriage to Lynda; his daughter-in-law Susanne Hooper and son-in-law Peter Clements, and his grandchildren William, Isabel, Luke and Ella. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 2:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Riverside, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of David Hooper to the Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter, 279 New Britain Road, Suite 5, Kensington, CT 06037, or to Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc., PO Box 246, Palmyra, PA 17078.