After enjoying a wonderful Father’s Day with his family, Keel James Cooper tragically passed on June 21, 2020.

Because of the incredible emotional pain this wrought for his mother, father and brother, it has taken a couple of months for them to be able to write an obituary. Due to this delay and the circumstances of his accidental death, we are aware that there has been some speculation in the community about how he passed. In order to address this speculation directly, and because it is important for us, and would certainly be important to Keel, we want everyone to know that his passing was not intentional and was a tragic accident. Anyone who knew Keel, also knows that this is true without doubt.

Keel was born in Maine on December 12, 2007.

Though only 12 ½ years old, Keel’s love of life, boundless energy, and kind and caring spirit touched the lives of many. Those who knew Keel appreciated his honesty, loyalty, sense of humor and zeal for life. Keel loved video games, his Irish heritage, hiking and fishing, working outdoors, animals, playing wide receiver in football and playing with his dog (who usually was involved somehow in Keel’s football drills in his front yard). Most of all, Keel cared about the love he shared with his closest people.

Whether a son, brother, friend, cousin or teammate, Keel had a great appreciation for every person who let him be a special part of their lives. Keel’s happy and energetic spirit is a gift to all his special people.

We are so blessed to have had him for 12 ½ years and will continue to celebrate his life and carry him with us always. He is incredibly beloved and he is so greatly missed but we are buoyed by feelings that he is still “with” us in many ways. He impacted all of us in ways for which we will always and forever be grateful.

Keel’s special people who survive him include, but are not limited to (because there are too many to be listed), his mom, Martie Cooper; his dad, Al Cooper; his brother, Henry Cooper; his grandmother “gram” Mary Jane Cooper; his aunts, Sara Cooper and Susie Greene; his uncles, Andy Greene and Mike Delehanty; his first cousins Connor Greene, Caeden Greene, and Casey Greene; numerous other cousins in Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey and Maryland; his other very special people, Samantha Pushaw, Maynard Pushaw, Max Pushaw, Macy Pushaw, Amanda Cole, the Merchant family; and his beloved dog, Harley aka Speedway.

Keel was predeceased by both his maternal grandparents, Grace Dryfoos Platt and James B. Platt, III; and by his first beloved dog, Cassie.

Anyone wishing to make contributions in Keel’s honor may do so by contacting the local Five Town Football organization about a donation or by making a donation to Brick City Lions at Newark Youth Athletic Foundation, Newark, NJ 07107, (973) 348-5225, www.facebook.com/BrickCityLions.