Andrew "Andy" Coop

Andrew “Andy” Ernst Coop of Aurora, Colorado, passed away in his home on August 21, 2022 at the age of 48 due to health complications from a long and difficult struggle with alcohol abuse. He was born on Father’s Day, June 16, 1974 in Denver, Colorado, the first born child of Gary D Coop and Roswitha “Rose” Coop.

Extraordinarily bright and eager to learn, Andy was already reading at the age of 3 when his family moved from Denver to Aurora. Andy grew up in Aurora attending Crawford Elementary, West Middle School and graduated Valedictorian from Aurora Central High School where he also excelled in the Air Force JROTC program and was a member of the National Honor Society. And, as kids do, he also found time to get into his share of mischief to remind his mother that he was indeed not “perfect”.

Andy received a congressional nomination for, and subsequently an appointment to, the United States Air Force Academy which he entered in June, 1992. He took great pride in being an Air Force Cadet and a member of Cadet Squadron 01 (Mighty Mach One). Andy also attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD during fall semester 1994 as an exchange student from the United States Air Force Academy. On May 29, 1996 he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research as a “Distinguished Graduate” of the Air Force Academy receiving both “Academic Distinction” and “Military Distinction” and was commissioned into active duty. Additionally, he was recognized as “Outstanding Graduating Cadet in Operations Research”,“Outstanding Cadet Squadron Commander”, and “Charter President, Omega Rho Honor Society”.

Andy was awarded a scholarship to study for his Masters Degree in Operations Research at M.I.T. following his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy with an appointment as a Draper Fellow (Research Assistant) at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. He earned the degree of Master of Science in Operations Research on June 5, 1998 achieving a 5.00 out of a possible 5.00 GPA.

From June 1998 until May 2001, Andy served as an Aerospace Platform Operational Research Analyst at the Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. From June 2001 through June 2003, he returned to the United States Air Force Academy to serve as Course Director and Instructor of Mathematical Sciences and was later appointed Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences. Andy discovered teaching was a passion and took great pride and satisfaction in his time as an educator at the Academy; additionally serving as an academic advisor, mentor and Squadron Professional Ethics Advisor inspiring cadets to serve with integrity. During his Air Force career, Andy was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal twice (First Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Force Training Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award, National Defense Service Medal and Air Force Organizational Medal along with numerous certificates of achievement and consistently exceptional performance reports.

In July 2003, having completed his active duty service commitment and separating from the Air Force, Andy entered civilian life with Amgen, a biopharmaceutical company in Longmont, Colorado as a Quality Engineer. He soon earned a Senior title, the Amgen Excellence in Quality Award, and was privileged to train and mentor his new peers. One of his colleagues, who has remained a steadfast friend, recently said. “He was one of the best teachers I ever had.”  In 2006, he made a lateral move within the company to Principal Industrial Engineer and was honored with the Amgen Excellence in Science and Engineering Award. With great regret, Andy left the company in 2008 after 5 years due to uncertainties regarding Amgen’s future in Colorado.

For the next seven years, Andy had positions at 5 different companies, including a LLC in which he was a Managing Partner. For various reasons, none were long term. In his own words,  after a project was cancelled and his employing firm laid him off in 2015, he “enrolled in the School of Hard Knocks to SEE what life is really all about”.

From March 2015 until June 2020, Andy attended his “School of Hard Knocks” and awarded himself an A+ and a Doctor’s Degree in Adversity. Again, in his own words: “I overcame calamity in my life as the result of mental health and addiction problems. Thus my gaps in employment. I am forthright about it, own it, and my ego is not made of glass. My education ingrained me with equanimity, humility, patience, empathy, and compassion. I made egregious mistakes, and while I am not proud of them, I am perhaps a better man for them.” Unfortunately, his disease, and yes it is a disease, not a character flaw, did not lose it’s hold; along with destroying all he had worked so hard for throughout his life, it destroyed his health as well.

Andy had two children that he absolutely adored. He enjoyed physically active outdoor adventures. He traveled, scuba dived, hiked, skied, snowshoed, biked, golfed, and enjoyed running, especially with his dogs. He was an avid photographer which more recently became a passion and he obtained FAA certification to capture drone aerial photographs as well. He was beginning to receive recognition for his photography and hoped to make it his new career. He was gifted, made great contributions and lived a life that would be envied by many. His life ended too soon and he will forever be missed by those that loved and admired him. I, his mother, have lost part of my soul.

Andrew is survived by his mother, Roswitha “Rose” Coop; his daughter, Cleo M Coop; his son, Quentin G Coop; his brother, Daniel D (Kandice) Coop; and his former spouse and mother of his children, Barbara Buckhalter. He was preceded in death by his father, Gary D Coop.

Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Air Force Academy Cemetery. Relatives and friends are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to: Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System, 1700 N Wheeling St, Aurora, CO 80045 for the benefit of the Homeless Veterans Denver program, in memory of Andrew Coop. Details can be found below.

https://www.va.gov/eastern-colorado-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/