Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Merv Cooper, rest in peace

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Fellow Kite Fliers around the planet,

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that Dr. Mervin L. Cooper, longtime treasurer/event organizer of the Toronto Kite Fliers and prominent kite aficionado worldwide, passed away on Friday, December 24th from a severe cardiac arrest. Merv is survived by his loving wife Rovena and his son David.

Merv had collapsed while swimming at his nearby recreation center and could not be revived by health professionals. As with religious custom, his funeral and memorial was held on Monday morning. Unfortunately due to the holidays and friends being out of town, there was no representation from the kiting community at this event.

Merv was a very close personal friend whom I shared many experiences with and I, as many of you who know him, am particularly disheartened by his sudden and unexpected passing. Merv had recently retired from a lengthy practice as a Toronto dentist and had been participating in many more kiting activities, particularly those in the Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) interest. Merv will be known as a cornerstone for many of the events he attended because of his extensive and whimsical kite collection, including his recent acquisitions of show kites. He was an avid Rokkaku competitor and personal benefactor to Lam Hoac, multiple champion kite competitor.

There will certainly be an empty space in the sky with his loss and an empty space in my heart, for he was a kiting pioneer and unsuspecting advocate for the hobby and the sport, not only in Ontario, but also throughout the world where his kites have flown.

The Toronto Kite Fliers are in the planning stages for an appropriate memorial in the near future, in remembrance to a great kite flier and friend. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Mervin L. Cooper Memorial Fund c/o The Benjamin Foundation (416-780-0324).

You are also encouraged to pay tribute to Merv by posting your messages, stories and remembrances here on the Merv Cooper memorial website. His wife and son look forward to reading about any stories and personal reflections from anyone in the international kiting community.

Respectfully,

Gary Mark
Toronto Kite Fliers
www.tkf.toronto.on.ca

10 Comments:

Blogger Gary said...

My memories of Merv Cooper are far too numerous to recollect just one. I can only think of Merv being the first to arrive at any event and the last one to take his kites down. Though sometimes we cursed that his 'line laundry' interfered with our flying space, we accorded him all the courtesy deserved for being the first and most tenacious flier on the field. I have trouble imaging how events will be without him. He was always quick to help others out. He was patient with new fliers. He always thought generously in his everyday dealings.

He will be sorely missed by all but we are thankful for having known him.

December 30, 2004 at 12:24 AM  
Blogger Carlos Simoes said...

Merv was always a great supporter of any kite event. I will fondly remember many great conversations with Merv on and off the field. He loved to talk about kites and kite people but also loved to talk about any hot topic of the day. I will also never forget his great smile and gentle way with children. He could always make the kids laugh, big or small.

I already miss Merv's deep booming voice. It seemed like anytime he needed help he would be at the other end of the field. Merv would yell across the field asking others to help him take down or put up another another big kite or KAP rig. We would all have a good laugh and wander over to help Merv as best we could. Merv, we always tried our best to follow your very detailed launch instructions :-)

Merv always knew how important it was to keep the aerial display fresh for the crowd. He was well known for working and rotating as many of his kites as possible. Merv worked hard at all events from the moment he arrived. His drive always inspired me to try and fly a few more kites.

Merv Cooper my friend, you will be missed by all.
Carlos SImoes

January 4, 2005 at 8:54 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From David Gomberg, President of the American Kitefliers Association:

From: David Gomberg [David@GombergKites.com]
Date: Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:33:41 AM Canada/Eastern
Subject: Dr. Merv

I was startled this morning to read the news of Merv Cooper passing.

Merv was a friend, a confidant, and a respected rokkaku competitor. I will miss him a lot, but take some consolation from the observation that he flew with joy and enthusiasm, and that he gave as good as he got.

Our skies won't be the same without him.

David Gomberg
Neotsu, Oregon

January 5, 2005 at 10:06 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From: "Jerald Houk" [jehouk@ix.netcom.com]
Date: Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:27:48 AM Canada/Eastern

I can't tell you what a shock it was to me reading this. I will always remember Mervin as a warm friendly person and fellow kite enthusiast.
This will leave an empty space in my heart as well.

Sincerely,
Jerald E. Houk
Maplewood, Minnestoa, USA

January 5, 2005 at 10:08 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From Steve Ferrel:

Damn.

Merv was a great guy. He was a big help at many recent AKA Conventions. He always volunteered a hand in Kitemakers Competition's - showing up each morning and offering me help where ever needed.

I hate hearing this stuff...

Steve Ferrel
Kite Studio
Allentown, Pennsylvania

January 5, 2005 at 10:11 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From Harold Ames, Wings Over Washington Kite Club:

Merv was a good man and a kite nut (I mean that as a compliment)

He was a tough competetor on the Rokkaku battle field too.

I will miss him.

Harold Ames
King George, Virginia

January 5, 2005 at 10:15 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From Rob Pratt, Fort Worden Kitemakers Conference:

Merv was a first class person, I met him at Festivals and conventions all over the place and always enjoyed his company. He will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with his family

Rob Pratt
Olympia, Washington

January 5, 2005 at 10:16 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From Carl Bigras, Ottawa Valley Kite Club:

I’m sorry to see a friend leave us so soon.
Full of energy, places to see, projects to plan and dreams to fulfill.
Every time I raise a kite, I will think of you.
Every time I do KAP, I will feel your presence guiding my every move.
It was a pleasure flying with you, traveling with you and KAPing with you.
Our memories will last forever.

God bless,
Carl & Nicole
Ottawa, Ontario

January 5, 2005 at 10:18 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From Terry McPherson, Mid-Michigan String Stretchers (M2S2):

So sad to hear of the loss of Dr. Merv Cooper.
He will be missed.

Terry McPherson
Ionia, Michigan

January 5, 2005 at 10:22 AM  
Blogger Gary said...

From the Reverend Charles Vickerson:

The poetic meditation of John Donne comes to mind with the passing of Merv Cooper my dear friend: "No man is an island", "For whom the bell tolls", "We are all books in God's library". Those are the words of John Donne and yes if God has a kite section, that must surely surpass the Library of Congress, then Merv will be a volume worth reading.

Open to any page and you find a real honest to goodness thoughtful person. He cared and he will be missed. His Volvo was the club's drinks and the meals on wheels SUV for all the homeless kiters flying those red hot fields of summer. There was never a supply problem. The kites flew on time. No wind, no problem. I recall at one festival we even carried the kites around like icons in a religious procession. He didn't want to disappoint the crowd and those kids wanted to see big kites. He was our showman, kite impresario, our operatic Giuseppe Verdi of the Canadian sky. The Doctor created his characters in the air from those international variety of kites that were his prize possession. He was a guy who knew how to share his wealth. You could see it in the wonder of a child looking upward. Rain or shine the show must go on. That's his message to me. Like the pop star Madonna, Merv had line laundry and knew how to flaunt it and fly it. Believe me as I traveled to the AKA I enjoyed VIP status just by being in his laundry entourage. It took half a day to get the laundry flying and half a day to get it down and pack it away. To be with Merv was to meet everyone. I mean everyone from around the world. As the "Rok Fighter" he was the "Big Unit" the winner the guy to beat the "Terminator" and it was an honor to hold his reel.

In this post tsunami age, we think about big waves and big losses,
numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Beyond out imagination.
Then the TV goes in for a close up. An orphan alone. A mom in shock.
The tsunami is personal. One on one. The little guy hurts. We can feel her loss.

The loss of Merv was like that my own private tsunami. My world
changed. In a stroke a great relationship was washed away. Things only we shared I can never recall with anyone else. Small waves can hit you big. Suffering a loss tends to make you a little selfish and introspective.
But I hope in time that my private tsunami will make me a more outgoing
and sympathetic person.

I feel I have a page in my mind, a valuable unique document that is to be added to the "BOOK OF MERV". We are still connected. John Donne had it right that no man is an island. I hope I influenced him because his positive friendship will forever affect me.

Rev. Charles Vickerson
Toronto, Ontario

January 9, 2005 at 8:14 PM  

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