Michael Joseph Coppi

07/11/60 ~ 01/29/19

Michael J. Coppi passed away peacefully at home in Colton, CA surrounded by his Wife Kathleen and wonderful supportive VITAS Nurses. Mike was born on July 11, 1960 in La Mesa, CA to Donald and Madeline Coppi. He grew up in Arcadia, CA. He was the eldest of six children.

Mike graduated from Holy Angels Catholic Elementary School in 1974, Arcadia HS in 1978, and Cal Poly Pomona University in 1982, with a BS degree in Aero Space Engineering. From there, Mike moved to Lompoc, CA where he worked for Martin Marietta at Vandenberg AFB. Mike took great pride working on the Space Shuttle program and launch pad fire suppression systems. While in Lompoc, he enjoyed taking pictures of the fields of colorful flowers, flying kites and fishing from Gaviota State Beach Pier. Family would often visit Mike in his small town community and take in the sights.

Mike moved to Florida in 1988 to work for Lockheed Martin where he continued working on the Space Shuttle program. Mike was an avid health enthusiast and eventually met Kathleen Swain in a local health food store. Mike and Kathleen were married on July 2, 1989. Together they purchased a house in Cocoa Beach where they welcomed Kathleen’s son Roy and other family visitors for tours at Disney World and other gator type air boat and airplane adventures. Mike had a great love of cats and so they took on a couple as household pets to enjoy the rain with. Through the years, Mike’s Friedreich's Ataxia progressed to the point where he was forced to take an early disability retirement from his employer.

They sold their house in 2000, packed up and moved back to California where they re-settled in Colton. It didn’t take long for Mike to adopt his favorite cat named Henry who kept him and Kathleen entertained for many years.

In Mike’s early years, he enjoyed designing and making model rockets and launching them from the Santa Anita Race Track parking lot in Arcadia as well as just about any other open place he could find including but not limited to the Desert of New Berry Springs, CA. Mike was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed playing his favorite tunes. Mike was a witty and extremely funny person who excelled in poetry, book and comic strip writing. There was nary a birthday celebration where he didn’t compose a crazy tribute that kept his on-lookers laughing and applauding. Prior to Mike’s professional career, he enjoyed gardening and working with plants and general horticulture – he had a very green thumb.

Mike was a selfless and giving person who had no concerns about what others thought of him as he marched and rolled through life with his unforgiving and relentless physical disabilities.

We will miss Mike’s unique take on life, yet we can’t help but revel over the bold and undeniably grand impact this unique person stamped on all those that knew him or met him along the way.

Mike is survived by his wife Kathleen; his parents Don and Madeline Coppi; siblings Patty Connelly and husband Bill, Ginny Delgatto and husband Tony, Chris Coppi and wife Patty, Brother-in-law Dave Norman, and Therese Coppi. His sister Mary preceded him in death. He was an Uncle to 13 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one or both of the following charities that Mike supported:

FARA (Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance) /

on-line Donations are accepted /CureFA.org

To Donate to Mary’s Gift (Non-Profit) - Payable to:

Fidelity Charitable Services P.O. Box 770001 Cincinnati, OH 45277-0053

Memo section on check - write account # 1084883. (over $250 is tax deductible and a receipt will be mailed)

Electronic giving is not possible at this time.

He was a Hero to those that really knew him.