Patricia Darlene Cooprider (nee Keister) (b. 1940 - 2021)

Patti a Montana Girl. Art History major University of Maryland. Mother of 7. All from the same guy. 62 years married. A prolific artist, hardly a week went by when she was not painting something new and colorful just like her radiant personality.

At age 18 was model in NY City at John Robert Powers Modeling School. In October 1958 Coop Cooprider proposed to her there on the phone from Great Falls, MT, where she was born in 1940. Lived in Germany 28 years, was supposed to be only 1 year. 4 children when they arrived and 7 children when they left. All attended German schools forcing them to learn the language of the country they were raised in. Traveling was the norm, introducing the kids to many different cultures.

The next almost 30 years were spent in San Diego. Volunteered for many charitable activities, including various Board memberships. In 1999 Patti was Chair of the 70th Annual Scripps Candlelight Ball, tripling the previous record income for the new Scripps Breast Care Center. In 2002, she was named a San Diego “Woman of Dedication”, sponsored by the Salvation Army. As "Movers and Shakers" Patti and her hubby Coop stay involved in the ARTS through CAC (California Arts Council), SDAI, as Members of many Museums. They also helped ArtWalk going again in 1994!

Coop says: “If you haven’t already received one of her original artworks with a personal handwritten note, just be nice to her and then check the mailbox. People treasure them.” And, they did! At the ICA in Balboa Park in 2022, funds were raised to fulfill Patti's dream "Every Child in the World Experience the Creation adn Love of Art." And one friend had saved over 150 of Patti's "Friendship Cards."

Patti’s every day motto was “Treat people the way I want to be treated: NICE.”