In Memoriam

Laura Cooper ’89

Cooper grew up partly in Greece and partly in the United States, attending the Arsakeion school in Athens, and the Breck School, just outside St. Paul, Minn. She earned a B.A. in political science from Reed College in 1984. Determined from age 9 to be an attorney, Cooper completed juvenile justice internships in high school and college and volunteered in the Washington, D.C., juvenile justice system. While attending Brooklyn Law School, she was the articles editor of the Brooklyn Law Review, and graduated magna cum laude and sixth in her class in 1989.

After earning a J.D., Cooper went on to work as a securities litigator at Weil, Gotschal & Manges before moving to the enforcement arm of the New York Stock Exchange, later consolidated as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, where she also organized attorney professional development training.

Cooper was an enthusiastic cook and loved to prepare and host inventive and elaborate meals and dinner parties for friends and family. Cooper also traveled extensively in Europe, Central and South America, and North Africa. Her other passions and talents included photography, calligraphy, gardening, and enjoying New York City’s cultural life. One of her proudest projects was restoring, renovating, and furnishing her landmarked Brooklyn rowhouse with a custom cook’s kitchen, garden oasis, and objects from her travels. She proudly participated with her neighbors in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens house and garden tour.

Cooper is survived by her mother, Nancy J. Kelly, of Pittsburgh, Pa., sister, Gigi Cooper, brother-in-law Shane Thomas, nephew Henry Thomas, niece Clea Thomas, extended family, and many friends. Her father, Frederick A. Cooper, predeceased her.

Lillian Lee Port ’52

Port, who went by her middle name, “Lee,” attended City College of New York, where she proudly served as editor of the school newspaper and went on to excel at Brooklyn Law School, graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 1952. She and her husband, Leonard, moved with their young family to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1964.

Shortly after the move, Port began work as a volunteer with Peninsula Temple Sholom, the American Jewish Congress, and at the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. After her children were grown, she commenced practicing law in the San Mateo Office of the District Attorney and County Counsel, which she continued for 25 years. She specialized in education law, representing school districts throughout the county. She taught School Law for Administrators at San Francisco State University for many years, and wrote the textbook used by most educator administrative credential programs in California, Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Law for School Administrators.

After retiring, Port resumed her volunteer activities in the after-school reading program at a local school, and served on the Foster City Education and Dog Park Committees. Port and her husband of almost 56 years, Leonard (1924–2004), traveled the world together, visiting more than 57 countries. She was also known as a skilled baker who had a new cookie for every occasion.

Port is survived by her three children, Penny Bennett (Dick), Jerri Port, and Andrew Port (Debbie); by her grandchildren, Lisa Prange, Amy Bennett, John Bennett, and Jessica and Aaron Port; and by three great-grandchildren.