David "Dave" Cooley

David "Dave" Cooley
On December 6, 2025, in Venice, Florida, the wonderful, loving and lovable husband, David "Dave" Rigge Cooley passed away. He and his wife, Sharon, have lived in Bay Indies in Venice, Florida for the last 6 years. Dave was born in Chicago, grew up on the Connecticut shore and graduated from Brown University, in 1967. He immediately hopped into his blue VW Beetle and drove to San Francisco to start his job at Bechtel Corporation. He worked as a civil engineer there for 33 years and then at PG&E, in California for another 15, before retiring. All told, the Cooleys lived in California for 45 years.
His most favorite place was a cottage they owned for 20 years on Prudence Island, on Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. He sailed on his sailboat the "Distraction" right in front of the cottage and never tired of it. While living in California and then in Oregon, the Cooleys drove 17 times across the country getting to and from the Prudence cottage. Though summers on the bay were wonderful, winters in the West were getting to be too much and so, the move to Florida in 2016, where it's never winter.
Dave was his happiest when snow skiing, sailing, playing the acoustic guitar, salt water fishing, reading and cuddling with his rescued cats. He also loved dining and socializing with friends and family and especially enjoyed his water aerobic classes at Bay Indies. He loved life and living it. Complications arising from the last of his many knee surgeries lead to his passing. He is so missed by many.
Dave is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sharon Blaney Cooley, his two children, Carter Robert Cooley (Kara) and Blaine Sharon Cooley, and his grandchildren, Holly and Fisher Cooley and Rios Avalos. He is also survived by his brother, Carter L. Cooley(Sandy). Their sister, Judith Watt, predeceased them.
Dave will have a Celebration of Life at his favorite place, Prudence Island, Rhode Island in the fall.