Marissa Eleanor Copan

Marissa Eleanor Copan was born on October 26, 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio to Dr. Walter G. Copan and Mary Lynn (nee Melnyk) Copan. Marissa passed away peacefully in Denver Hospice on December 23, 2024. In her 36 years, Marissa had an extraordinary impact on science education and community engagement for nature study and conservation. An avid outdoorswoman with a positive, adventurous spirit, she led STEM and nature conservation programs in the U.S. and internationally.

Marissa was a graduate of Golden High School in Golden, Colorado, and went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, at Goucher College (Baltimore, MD) in communications, media and peace studies in 2010. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Conservation Biology in 2020 through the Miami University (Ohio) Advanced Inquiry Program, in partnership with Denver Zoo.

Amongst her many talents, she played flute and piano, ran track, and played lacrosse and field hockey during high school. She continued playing field hockey at Goucher College and beyond, in Colorado State League play, and returned to coach field hockey at Golden High School. Golden High’s Senior Seminar programs in nature study in the Southwestern U.S. and marine exploration in Hawaii greatly impacted Marissa’s career.

Marissa was an avid traveler and explorer, having lived in the UK as a child, and attended Australia’s University of the Sunshine Coast in a semester abroad during college. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, went skydiving in New Zealand, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, and led expeditions in the jungles of Mexico and in Amazon rainforests. She was a conservation biologist and science educator, having served at Majestic View Nature Center, Arvada, CO, and as community outreach director and other nature education roles at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, CO for over 10 years. More recently, Marissa led field research outreach programs for STEM educators with the Morpho Institute, and was festival coordinator with the Colorado Environmental Film Festival. Earlier in her career, Marissa conducted youth programs at Four Mile Historic Park in Colorado. Marissa also served with the AmeriCorps VISTA program at Bluff Lake Nature Center.

Marissa is a beloved friend, mentor, teammate, and coach to many. She received the Coach of the Year Award for leading her alma mater’s Field Hockey team to a winning season at Golden High School. She received the Governor’s Service Award for her contributions in AmeriCorps, and was honored by the Denver “Rock Stars of the Rockies 30 under 30” award.

Marissa is survived by her parents, by her sisters Elizabeth M. Copan and Alexandra H. Copan, by her daughter, Michael (“Mikey”) Darlene, born to Marissa and Tyler Polhill in September 2019, and by an extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.

A celebration of her life will be held at 1:30 PM MT Saturday, Feb 1, 2025 in the Pavilion chapel at Olinger funeral home in Wheat Ridge, CO. For those unable to join in person, the celebration will be available via livestream. Gifts may be made in Marissa’s memory to the Morpho Institute: www.morphoinstitute.org/donate or sent to The Morpho Institute, P.O. Box 361030, Grosse, Pointe, MI 48236.