Richard Cope

Richard W. Cope, 82, of Belleair Beach and St. Petersburg, Florida, died April 8, 2025 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. Rich was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on February 16, 1943, to parents Weldon and Marie Cope. He grew up alongside his brother, Charles Cope, six years his junior. Eventually, the family moved to Clearwater, Florida when Rich was in middle school. During high school, Rich co-hosted the radio program the Dick and Bob show, which aired on various radio stations. Rich graduated from Clearwater High School with the class of 1960. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida, with honors. Rich graduated as a Gator in 1964. While in college, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, later becoming a Gold Member for Life, and then got his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University in 1965. Recruited right out of grad school by Corning Glass Co., he stayed with that company from 1965 until 1969.

At the age of 28, he signed on with Rodgers and Cummings, a Clearwater real estate business founded in 1926 in Clearwater, Florida. There were seven associates at that time. Merrill Lynch bought the company in 1981, when Rich was then the principal owner and had expanded the operation to eight offices in Pinellas and Pasco counties with 180 sales associates. He later became President and Chief Operating Officer of Merrill Lynch for the Southern United States Division, with 200 offices in 11 states and in the District of Columbia. With the acquisition of Merrill Lynch Realty in 1989 by Prudential Insurance Company of America, Rich continued to serve as President and COO for the Southern U.S. Division of Prudential Residential Services, until he and his partners formed CMT Holdings, Inc. and acquired the Florida offices through a management buyout in 1981.

From 1991 until July 1998, Rich served as Chairman and CEO of Prudential Florida Realty. During that time, Rich acquired 23 real estate brokerage firms throughout Florida and moved up in the national rankings to the fourth largest independently owned and operated real estate company in the country.

CMT Holdings, Inc. accepted an offer from the St. Joe Company and was purchased in 1998. The company finalized its conversion to Arvida Realty Services on March 1, 1999. Rich expanded the Arvida brand to 105 offices with continued title, mortgage and other real estate related services. In April 2002, Coldwell Banker purchased Arvida, and Rich stayed on as a senior consultant.

Though Rich was humble by nature he lived an incredibly accomplished life. During his years, he mentored all those surrounding him and created a team that was unparalleled. The most appropriate gift Rich was known for was his leadership. Time and time again, those that worked with Rich always commended him on his leadership skills, proving him to be a caring and compassionate man, while embodying the strategic principles of business.

In addition to his business pursuits, Rich found time to enjoy and lead many other endeavors, among them, serving on the Bank of Clearwater, founding Liberty Bank where he served as Chairman of the Board, which eventually became part of Valley Bank. Rich was also deeply committed to philanthropy. He generously supported much of his time and treasure to organizations such as Clearwater Central Catholic High School; St. Paul’s School (once Chairman of the Board); Alpha Tau Omega Gold Society; the Salvador Dali Museum, the Order of the Salvator; the University of Florida Fixel Institute of Movement Disorders and Neurological Diseases (where he established the Jill F. and Richard W. Cope Professorship in honor of Dr. Christopher W. Hess, M.D.). In addition, Rich created a Tennis Scholarship endowment at the University. He served on the Real Estate Advisory Board for the University of Florida and was a member of the National Association of Realtors.

In his free time, Rich was an avid fisherman and boater. He traveled extensively, exploring the waters of South and Central America, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico aboard his beloved boats, most of which were named the Copesetic. He also traveled to many continents with his wife, and was as engaged with each as he was engaging himself.

Rich was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He was kindhearted, had a great sense of humor, and was always quick to smile and embrace those he didn’t know. He was truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years Jill Fisher Cope, children Chris (Kathryn) Cope, Patricia (Bill) Loughery, and Peyton (Audrey) Powers, his grandchildren Jack, Cate, Collin, and Brendan, and cat, Sammy.

He is preceded in death by his parents Weldon and Marie Cope, and brother Charles Cope.

A memorial service for Richard W. Cope will be held Thursday April 24, 2025 at 11:00am at the Episcopal Church of Ascension 701 Orange Avenue, Clearwater Florida 33756. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases 3009 Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32608. https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/028001-fixel-institute-advancement-fund/