Funeral Arrangements For Beloved Firefighter, Friend

CUTCHOGUE, NY — A heavy blanket of sadness has enveloped the North Fork Thursday after the tragic and sudden passing of a man who has left a long legacy.

Jason R. Cooper of New Suffolk died suddenly on Wednesday. He was 47 years old.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 10 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday, June 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck.

Funeral services will take place on Monday, June 12 at 10 a.m. at the Mattituck Presbyterian Church.

Interment with military honors will take place at the Cutchogue Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and/or the Cutchogue Fire Department would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

A Benevolence Fund has been created at the Mattituck Presbyterian Church for donations for his family; please note on the check that the funds should be directed to Jason Cooper's family.

Cooper, a Lieutenant in the Cutchogue Fire Department, is remembered as a loving, kind man devoted to his family and to the community he served, including his Cutchogue Fire Department family and the Mattituck Presbyterian Church.

"He was an awesome person," said friend at MPC Rory MacNish, who said his heart went out to Cooper's family. "I rode motorcycles with him — and he was going to cook all the chicken for the barbecue next month. He did so much more for his church family and friends. I'm just in shock," he said.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said he will be deeply missed. "Like the rest of the community, I am shocked and saddened by this news," he said.

Patch courtesy photo.