Obituary of O. James Cope

0. James Cope passed away peacefully at home in the loving arms of family, after a long battle with Parkinson's. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Ave Marie Cope of Aptos, two sons Bartell J. Cope of Santa Cruz and Paul J. Cope of San Francisco, his daughter Sandra M. Deighan and grandson Sean P. Deighan both of Sherman Oaks, CA. He is also survived by his former wife Dorothy C. Williams of Palm Desert, CA, sister in-law Mary Payne of Cedar City, Utah, brothers-in-law Donald Bartell of Big Bear, CA and Steve Payne of Cedar City, Utah, nephews Jib Payne of Saint George, Utah and Brian Crook of Gloucestershire, England, niece Joanne Sharpels of Tetbury, England and many dear friends here and across the globe. A native of England, James was a graduate of Sutton High, Plymouth, England, Exeter University, England, and earned his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Alberta, Canada. In 1963 James worked at Purdue University in Canada was the only cited collaborator on the organoborane research of Herbert C. Brown, that earned Brown the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He later worked for 3M and DuPont as Senior Research Chemist before coming to California as one of the 8 original founders of Xidex Corporation. There, as Vice President of Technology, he developed and patented numerous products and processes for Xidex. James was a lover of family, travel, history, study, music, the arts and all things involving the sea. He played clarinet and sax in the University Band and mastered the piano in later years. He was a true Humanist, a man of compassion, believing that we are ALL God's creatures. James felt it was our responsibility to support the arts and those in need, so he was a generous supporter, well over 25 years, to Covenant House, Southern Poverty Law, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, St. Labre Indian School, Salvation Army and the International Eye foundation. He was also a lifelong member of the American Chemical Society and the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. He decided to retired early on order to spend time, with family and friends, exploring the world and history through travel and books, windsurfing, hiking, maintaining his fluency in French and proficiency as a pianist. A memorial sail will take place in honoring his love of the sea on his final worldly journey, now to rest in the waiting arms of those who preceded him, his sister Rosemary and parents Ethel and Oswald. In lieu of flowers the Cope family encourages donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or to your favorite charity. .