Donald Edmund Cooley

Don Cooley lived 100 wonderful years, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom, love, family, friendship, and purpose. On many levels, he was a truly successful man. Born in West Lafayette, Indiana, Don was the 4th of 5 children. His father Roy was a professor of Animal Husbandry at Purdue University, and his mother Jennie was a homemaker, costume maker, and community leader. His lifelong devotion to family was instilled in that home. For the entirety of his life, Don pursued a life of purpose in his work, in his play, in his devotion and in his community. He focused not on regret for things left undone, but on his gratitude for the bounty of life's goodness even in the face of great challenges. In his senior year at Purdue in 1944, WWII was grinding on and the Army was in need of officers. Don enlisted, joining a small group of young men with high academic standing to participate in the Army Specialized Training Program, created to train and fast track ASTP recruits to higher ranking leadership roles.

Unfortunately, the War intensified and the initial plans for those soldiers were sidelined. Instead, Don was sent to the front lines in Belgium. There, on December 16th, he was captured, along with 10,000 others in a surprise attack and loaded into cattle cars. It was in the box cars that Don turned 21 years old. The train would ultimately take them to Stalag 4B prison camp in Germany. After nearly 5 months, he and two fellow prisoners escaped and were found hiding in the barn of an allied family. To the very end of Don's life, the Star-Spangled Banner drew tears with the lyrics "and the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there." They were very personal words, remembering that sight himself in 1945 indicating that Liberation was on the horizon. He had been taken prisoner on the first day of what came to be known as The Battle of the Bulge.

Don returned home following the war and used the GI Bill to attend Stanford University Business School where he earned his MBA. On a blind date in 1950, skiing at Badger Pass with friends, he met Diane Porter, a vivacious, fun, and smart Stanford Senior from Watsonville, CA. They married in 1952 and their life together spanned 70 bountiful years. During a successful 37-year career with IBM, Don and his family moved from California to Arizona, to Connecticut, then back again to California, settling in Santa Monica for 14 years. In 1980, Don and Diane made their final move, going from Santa Monica to Watsonville, to take the reins on Diane's pioneer family's ranches and farming operations. At home on their beloved ranch, Don transitioned from a suit and fedora to a cowboy hat and jeans. Don and Diane were dedicated members of the community taking leadership roles in the preservation of farmland. Don's most passionate involvements were the restoration of Pigeon Point Lighthouse, the California State Parks Foundation, and the UC Santa Cruz Foundation.

Don was a mounted Ranger at Año Nuevo State Park and, with Diane, was named an Honorary Ranger in 2011 by the California State Parks Rangers Association. In addition, Don and Diane received the UCSC Fiat Lux Award in 2012 for their exemplary service and generosity to the University. Much was made of Don and Diane's philanthropy; however, it was their dedication to raising up their community and being neighborly in every aspect that motivated their actions. Don was also dedicated to All Saints Cristo Rey Episcopal Church in Watsonville, the renovation of the Watsonville YMCA, the Boy Scouts, where he established an Eagle Scout academic scholarship, the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation, and others. He was a member of the Pacific Union Club in San Francisco, the Old Capitol Club in Monterey, Rancheros Visitadores, Frontier Boys, Sonoma County Trailblazers, Southern Skis, and a former member of the California Yacht Club.

As an avid outdoorsman, Don was a skier, sailor, river rafter hiker and trail rider. He and Diane traveled to all 7 continents, always joined by family and friends. They were known far and wide for their love of hosting great parties that included lobster luaus, hoedowns, roundups on their beloved Circle P Ranch and a score of other wild and wacky events. One of Don's favorite sayings was "Why Not?!" His boat, from his days in Old Greenwich, CT was named the "Y Knot," reflecting his sense of fun and spontaneity. He was a top-notch domino player and passed his love of the game to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He paid his infrequent domino debts in $2 bills. Don's belief in a good education and the opportunities that brings inspired him to seed countless college degrees, in addition to assistance with first time homes, summer camps, enrichment programs and adventures.

His good works will continue to flourish for generations to come and he will be missed by all for another 100 years. Don is survived by his daughter Anne Cooley Youngblood (Ben); grandchildren: Samuel Porter Cooley (Rebecca), Kathryn Agaccio Doman (Tyler), Genevieve Fullerton Dash (Alex) and Thomas Porter Youngblood; along with step-grandchildren: Tyler Youngblood and Emily Roberts (Jon); and great grandchildren: Porter Ann Doman, Eva Mae Doman, Samuel Porter Cooley, Jr., William Anthony Cooley (soon to arrive!) and Rye Benjamin Roberts. His wife Diane Porter Cooley died in 2022. Sadly, he was predeceased by his devoted son, Steven Porter Cooley in 2021. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 11:00 am at All Saints Cristo Rey Episcopal Church, 437 Rogers Ave., Watsonville, CA 95076. If you are so inclined, donations can be made in Don's memory to: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation at: www.fairgrounds-foundation.org; California State Parks Foundation at: www.act.calparks.org.

Mehl's Colonial Chapel has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Published in The Pajaronian · March 8, 2024