Sylvia Cooper

Sylvia Cooper died on May 26th, 2022. She was the daughter of Jack Schumer and Minnie West, sister of George Schumer, mother of Barbara Cooper (Joel), grandmother of Adam Powell (Jennifer), and great grandmother of Elle Powell and Jay Powell. After growing up in Brooklyn, she moved to Manhattan, where she spent her adult life. For a half-century, she lived in The Thornley on the Upper East Side.

Sylvia lived life on her own terms. Born Sarah Vivian, she quickly adopted the name "Sylvia", which she created by concatenating her first and middle names. She even invented her own date of birth, and requested that it not be stated in this obituary. After marriages to Eli Cooper and Harry Wasserman, she lived physically and financially independently. Sylvia was a renowned stenographer and worked as a secretary at several New York high schools (Adlai Stevenson, Benjamin Franklin, and Julia Richman).

Sylvia was always impeccably dressed, and continually wanted to look her best. Every night, she slept gazing at a portrait of herself that had been painted at the Concord during her younger years. Into her early 90s, she pushed a blue shopping cart for balance, rather than use a walker. She wanted people to see her as youthful, as she wanted to help others rather than to be helped.

Sylvia valued generosity. Although she had modest means, she gave what money she had to her family, friends, and a wide assortment of charities. She donated to organizations supporting people with disabilities, veterans, and a range of Jewish causes. She likewise did her best to be kind to those around her, whether that meant bringing hot chocolate to the doormen at her building, or offering her doctor a tuna fish sandwich. In addition to giving materially, Sylvia lent an ear to the many friends that filled her life – some several decades younger than her.

Sylvia brought a smile to all those around her. She loved her family. She loved her life.