KGI Mourns the Loss of Trustee and Longtime Supporter Marsh A. Cooper
The KGI community is deeply saddened by the death of Marsh A. Cooper, an active member of its Board of Trustees, who died at his home in Toronto, Canada, on July 9, at age 100.
"Marsh was a true friend to KGI for many years and was instrumental in setting us on a path to success," President Sheldon Schuster said. "Joining the KGI Board of Trustees in May of 2000, Marsh saw the very first class of MBS students come through our doors late that August. He joined us for my inauguration in the spring of 2004 and at almost all commencement ceremonies over the following years. Marsh attended nearly every meeting of the Board, faithfully serving on the Audit and Risk Management Committee from day one. In addition, as a director of the W. M. Keck Foundation, Marsh provided key support to the partnership between KGI and the foundation. His wisdom and unwavering support will be deeply missed by me personally and by our entire community."
Marsh Cooper was president of M.A. Cooper Consultants Inc. and former president and chief executive officer of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. A vice president and a member of the Board of Directors of the W. M. Keck Foundation, he served on the boards of more than 35 companies. He was a fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists and of the Geological Association of Canada, as well as a member of the Engineering Hall of Distinction, University of Toronto, and of the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.
He received a B.A.Sc. and M.A. Sc. from the University of Toronto and studied geology at Harvard University. During World War II, he served as a flight lieutenant with the Royal Canadian Air.
In the fall of 2007, Robert and Kelly Day made the lead gift to establish the Marsh A. Cooper Bioengineering Lab at KGI. Last September, KGI awarded the degree Doctor of Applied Life Sciences honoris causa to Marsh Cooper.