David Cooper

1940 - 2025

To know David Cooper was to love David Cooper. A dear friend to all, a loving father and husband, a remarkable man. His laugh brought joy to everyone he encountered and his good hearted nature made you feel warm and loved. His sense of adventure was unparalleled and he was never short of friends looking to adventure with him. It is with profound sadness that we announce his passing on October 11, 2025. He was 85.
David was born on January 17, 1940 to Vincent and Eileen Cooper, joining sister Linda in their Sacramento home. He attended Sacramento High School, then UC Davis, and went on to study law at UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall. His law degree took him to the US Army as a JAG Officer before returning to civilian life and eventually running his own law practice in Santa Rosa.
David's engagement in the Santa Rosa community was significant. He was a respected attorney, and was also engaged in Rotary and Toastmasters. He picked up friends wherever he went and became involved in lifelong friendship groups focused on running and mountaineering. He climbed countless peaks and spent countless hours in the wilderness. Discussions about the Werewolves and the Gnarly Dudes were a regular topic around the household and built lifelong friendships that will never be forgotten.
David married Ellen Mingst on October 27, 1984 and enjoyed a wonderful marriage for 40 years with a family that included kids Colton, Devon, Courtney and Chelsea. David and Ellen spent time working, traveling, and engaging with their many friends. Ellen sometimes had to compete with his other love, old Porsches. Throughout his life, he loved to restore and drive his cars. He and Ellen enjoyed many drives even later in life when Ellen took the wheel and they cruised around town.
As life dealt some health blows, David retired from law and engaged even more meaningfully into the community. He spent many years volunteering for the Santa Rosa Police Department which he enjoyed immensely. He continued his love of the outdoors with hiking, cycling, swimming, skiing. Anything outdoors brought him joy and he always had friends nearby that were geared up and ready to go.
His lifetime has created countless friendships and acquaintances, all of whom will miss his kind, yet energetic spirit. He was making friends to his last day. David is preceded in death by his dear sister and brother in law Linda and Phil Salamy and their son Brad, his sister in law Debra Mingst, and his daughter in law Rosemarie Cooper. He is survived by his wife Ellen, his kids Colton (Laura) Cooper, Devon Cooper, Courtney (Kris) Klein, and Chelsea (Michael) Cooper, his grandchildren Summer, Matthew, Cooper, Kennedy and Rosemary, his brand new great grandchild Rosemarie, and his niece Liz Salamy Abess and her children Mitchell and Rachel.
A service is planned in Santa Rosa, CA on Saturday, January 10, 2026.