Steve was a 1967 graduate of Bolivar Central School going on to receive his Masters Degree in Hospital Administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC. His first job after graduation was in Buffalo, NY as a nursing home administrator. Upon moving to Colorado Springs, Co in 1976 he expanded his healthcare experience into the field of marketing, selling medical equipment to doctors and hospitals. He honed his skills in this area working for ever larger companies until his sales region included seven western and midwestern states. Eventually his desire to own his own company lead him on a new path. He purchased a Service Master franchise for the Colorado Springs area. Using his extensive sales experience, he built a successful company with nearly 100 employees cleaning small business offices to large business buildings and campuses.

During a ServiceMaster awards ceremony, Steve was described as a person that worked hard and played hard…….that truly was Steve!

The freedom of owning his own company made the enjoyment of his love of boating possible. From his childhood and teen years spent at Cuba Lake in New York to years making summer trips in his RV to his house boat at Lake Powell in Utah along with so many other lakes across the country, he was in his glory. He spent innumerable hours teaching anyone how to waterski who wished to learn. Once taught, he then was happy to pull them around the lakes behind his boat. Steve had an unending appreciation of music and it was always being listened to at home, in the car, RV or the boat. He also enjoyed going to car races. Friends were the bedrock of his life. He always stayed in contact with people he met over the years and kept the rest of us up to date on their lives. In his retirement, he relocated to Lake Havasu City. He then had a lake available to him every day. He had accomplished his forever dream.

He is survived by his son, Jeff (Carmen) Cooper of California; his previous wife, Georgia Cooper; sister-in-law, Bonnie L. Cooper; and two very close friends who cared for and helped him during the past five years, Scott Burrell and Mary Lombardo; and several nieces and nephews.

A Joint Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026, Noon till 4:00 at the Lodge at Sunny Hill Campground, 7856 Messer Hill Rd. Bolivar, NY 14715 for both Steve and his brother.