Daniel W. Kops, Sr
Daniel W. Kops, Sr. of Palm Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the family he loved, on November 14, 2009 at Connecticut Hospice. He was 92 at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy, his sons, Daniel W. Kops, Jr. (Sandra) and Stephen R. Kops, a daughter, Cynthia Kops Merbaum (fiance Richard Pacini), seven grandchildren, one great granddaughter, eight nieces and one nephew. Born on August 7, 1917 in Lawrence, New York, he spent his childhood in New York City, where he attended the Horace Mann School. He matriculated at Cornell University, majoring in journalism. In 1939, his senior year, he served as editor of The Cornell Daily Sun. After graduation he began his career working as a reporter for the Houston Press. At the onset of World War II, he enlisted as a private in the U.S. Air Corps, rising to the rank of major. He served on a project developing ground radar. After the war he married Nancy and moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a reporter for the Harrisburg Telegraph. Early on he recognized the potential role of radio to be far more than a vehicle for entertainment. He moved with his wife, Nancy, to New Haven and became a partner in radio station, WAVZ. In addition to expanding its news coverage significantly, he pioneered the use of radio editorials as a means of promoting ideas for the betterment of the community. During the 1950's and 60's his voice was heard regularly throughout the greater New Haven area advocating for public housing, fluoridation, freedom of information and numerous other causes. He served as a board member of the National Association of Broadcasters, and as Chairman of the Committee on Editorializing. The business expanded to include WKCI and two stations in the Albany-Troy area. He served as President of Kops-Monahan Communications, Inc. In addition to his role in promoting broadcast journalism, he worked tirelessly for the betterment of the New Haven Community. He served as President of the Greater New Haven United Fund, now known as the United Way and a trustee of Albertus Magnus College. He also served as a member of the boards of Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Visiting Nurse Association, New Haven Arts Council and many other numerous local boards. He also served on the board of the National United Way Association. His numerous awards include the Connecticut Broadcasters Association's Distinguished Service Award, the New Haven Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Award, and the Connecticut Jaycees Man of the Year Award. A loyal Cornellian, he received an honorary degree from Albertus Magnus College and was a fellow at Yale University's Saybrook College. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be sent to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405 or the Greater New Haven United Way, 71 Orange St., New Haven, CT 06511. Funeral arrangements are in care of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden.
Dear Stephen and family, I was so saddened to hear of the passing of your father.I send you and your family my prayers and sincere sympathy during this very difficult time. I can not believe it has been so many years since we have seen each other but I still hold many happy memories of the times we spent as children on Spring Glen Terrace. Stephen,I hope you are well. Sincerely, Ellen Flagg Malave
To The Kops Family My Deepest Sympathy Tim Colavecchio Church Street Guilford, CT
Dan- I am very sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing and would like you to know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Regards, Linda Melillo
Dear Nancy & Family: I was so sorry to hear of Daniel’s passing. He will be remembered with great fondness. I wish we could be there in person tomorrow to pay our respects. Our prayers and thoughts will be there with you.
Dear Nancy and Family, I was so sad to learn of Dan’s death. It was always a pleasure to see him at meetings of The Club at Mory’s. His intelligence, charm and courtliness will stay in my memory of him. Please accept my sympathy at this sad time -Beverly Hodgson
Dear Nancy and Family. We send our love and deepest sympathy to you and yours. Warmly, Barbara and David Silverstone
Dear Nancy and family: I was saddened to read of Dan’s passing. He was always a person of high standards, pleasant to relate to, of high intellect, and ethics, and a gift to the community. I hope that you, and your family, find peace and joy in recalling your lives shared.
Dear Nancy and Family–We are very sorry to learn of Dan’s death.He was a true gentleman who did a lot to help others. He will be missed.
I am very sorry and hope that you will carry forward nothing but fond memories of this man’s exeptional life.
Our fondest thoughts are with you all. Although we only met Mr Kops once, we experienced his profound influence on this world through his daughter Cindy and his granddaughters Holly and Lindsey. They are remarkable women due in no small measure to his love and guidance. May your cherished memories sustain you at this time and always.
We met only once and briefly. One could easily intuit in his presence that a man of dignity and meaningful accomplishment was in the room. And then there are Daniel’s photographs, which only could be taken by a man with an eye for the true beauty on this earth. I wish I could have known him well. My deepest, heartfelt thoughts are with his family at this time. But what a great life he lived!
Cindy and family, My deepest sympathy on your loss. Fran
Dan – What a wonderful life your father lead and what a great inspiration to the rest of us. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Dan and family, I was sorry to hear about your loss. It is so hard to lose a parent. My sympathy to you and your family. Linda
Dan: I am so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. May your faith in God sustain you and your family during this difficult time. I will keep you in my Prayers.
Dear Bancy, Pam and I were saddened to read of Dan’s passing and you and your family have our deepest sympathy. Knowing Dan, I’m sure he would want us to honor his life and not mourn his death and there is much to honor. Few individuals were icons in the community as was Dan. Most of them are no longer with us. I think of Newt Schenck, Dick Bowerman and Dick Lee. then, still with us, there’s Herb Pearce. It doesn’t seem like they make men like that any more. Our community was blessed to have Dan for the time we did as we are blessed in having you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Buck and Pam Wilson
Dear Dan and Sandy, So sorry. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers these next weeks. Rose.
I am so sorry for your loss and will keep your family in our prayers.
Nancy and Family, Sorry for the loss of your husband and father. May he rest in peace. Sincerely, Annette Crowley
My Aunt, Clare Toth, worked for Kops-Monohan from 1960 until 1990. She and our entire family send our condolences. He was a good man and very good to my Aunt.
As a youngster growing up listening to WAVZ I remember the excellent editorials Mr. Kops delivered. They were well written, thoughtful but more importantly his message was always with respect to what was best for the .public.. In 1972 Mr.Kops made it possible for me to work at WAVZ which to this day was the most meaningful and furfilling positions of my adult life. May he rest in peace.
To the Kops family. Sincerest condolences to your family. Mr. Kops ran a top rate radio station, WAVZ. His editorials were of great contribution to the New Haven community. I vividly recall Mr. Kops behind his large mahogany desk as you first entered through the double glass doors of WAVZ, as I was first an intern at WAVZ and later proud to be on air at WAVZ. WAVZ was truly the Crown Jewel of CT. radio, ranked with many of the top radio stations in the U.S. If you were at WAVZ, you were going places. The official WAVZ Weekly Sign Off: .This is WAVZ New Haven, A Kops, Monahan Station, Concluding Another Day of Broadcast Activity for a Period of Technical Adjustment.
Dear Bancy, Pam and I were saddened to read of Dan’s passing and you and your family have our deepest sympathy. Knowing Dan, I’m sure he would want us to honor his life and not mourn his death and there is much to honor. Few individuals were icons in the community as was Dan. Most of them are no longer with us. I think of Newt Schenck, Dick Bowerman and Dick Lee. then, still with us, there’s Herb Pearce. It doesn’t seem like they make men like that any more. Our community was blessed to have Dan for the time we did as we are blessed in having you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Buck and Pam Wilson