Obituary: Audrey Cooper, Newton Pioneer, 97

NEWTON, MA — Longtime Newton resident Audrey Cooper, known for helping to establish early childcare and after school programs at the local nonprofit Family ACCESS of Newton and helping the effort to establish a Senior Center in Newton, died May 22 at her home in West Newton. She was 97.

Cooper, an active member of the community was described in her obituary as a "Newton Pioneer," She served a number of roles in the city where she and her late husband David lived for more than seven decades, according to her obituary.

She received the Human Rights Award from the city in 2009. She was named an unsung heroine by the Massachusetts Commission of Status of Women for her half century of service on the board of directors of Newton Community Service Center in 2011, according to the book "Legendary Locals of Newton" written by Gail Spector.

Her day job for nearly three decades was as the secretary at Underwood School in Newton Corner.

She chaired the board of trustees for the Newton Free Library, co-chaired the steering committee to establish the Newton Senior Center and was a founding member of Temple Shalom, according to her obituary.

She was also active in politics, chairing the Ward 3 Newton Democratic Committee and serving on the Democratic City Executive Committee for decades.

Cooper was born in 1924 in Brookline and graduated from Brown University before moving to the Garden City, where she spent the rest of her life, and raised two daughters.

In addition to her daughters, she leaves behind two granddaughters, five great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews, according to her obituary.

For more information about services see her obituary at dignitymemorial.com.