Newton Cope

COPE, Newton

The owner of several properties on Nob Hill and elsewhere, died after a long struggle with cancer on November 26, 2005 in San Francisco. Since 1967, Cope has been associated with Nob Hill Properties, Inc. of San Francisco, the owner of The Huntington Hotel and several other properties in San Francisco and Napa. He assumed the role of President in 1976. After becoming President, the company continued to acquire properties, adding La Playa Hotel in 1982 and Cottages by the Sea in 1990, both in Carmel. The company also owns several other buildings in San Francisco. At the time of his death, Mr. Cope was Chairman of the Board. Cope was born in Bakersfield, California on April 28, 1922, the third of five children. After his fathers untimely death in 1932 at age 37, Copes mother brought the family to Sacramento. He attended local schools in Sacramento and attended UC Berkeley. Mr. Cope entered the Army Air Force in 1942 and became a pilot instructor. He was stationed at Davis-Monthan and Thunderbird AFBs in Arizona and Mather AFB in Sacramento. He achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant. In 1950, Mr. Cope was called up for the Korean War. He was then a Captain in the Air Force Reserve. He was training at McClellan AFB in Sacramento in April, 1951 when, on returning from a flight to Alameda, his engine stalled. He crash landed at Del Paso Country Club, but received no injuries. After the war, Mr. Cope worked for J. J. Jacobs Cadillac and Buick Companies in Sacramento, purchasing the Buick agency in 1951. He sold the agency in 1959 and purchased several buildings in Old Sacramento. In 1960, he opened The Firehouse Restaurant in the original 1853 building that housed Sacramento No. 3 Engine Company. Mr. Cope is credited with being one of the first people to see the benefits of and work towards the restoration of Old Sacramento. He sold the Firehouse in 1999. Mr. Cope was a member of the Pacific Union Club and the Cypress Point Club. In 1945, Mr. Cope married the former Marilyn Jacobs of Sacramento. They had three children, Catherine MacMillan, Newton A. Cope Jr. and John J. Cope. That marriage ended in divorce in 1967. He married Dorothy Fritz MacMasters in 1967. Mr. Cope adopted Mrs. MacMasters two children from a former marriage, Marguerite Fritz-Cope and Isabelle Fritz-Cope. They had two children together, Serena Fritz Cope and Callaghan Fritz Cope. Dorothy died in 1976. Mr. Cope married the former Marion Rumsey Moore, formerly of New York, in 1989. They had no children. Mr. Cope had 9 grandchildren. All his children and grandchildren survive him. At Mr. Copes request, no services will be held. Donations may be sent to the Cardiology Division, UCSF, in care of Dr. William Grossman, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0124, San Francisco, CA 94143-0124.