Judith Cooperstein

Judith “Judy” Cooperstein passed away peacefully on May 23, 2022, with loved ones by her side, following a long and courageous battle with several health conditions. She is survived by her son, Chuck, grandson, Jeffrey and daughter-in-law, Karen, along with sister-in-law, Jane Wyker, and her husband, Bob. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Rebecca Mintz, and her brother, Norman Mintz. Judy also has a daughter, Karen, along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Born on February 7, 1938, Judy grew up in Great Neck, New York. From an early age, sports was in her blood. As a pre-teen, she was a swimmer with Olympic dreams until she decided (on a dare from her parents) to take up golf at age 14.

By age 15, she was accomplished enough to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Junior Championship at Brookline, Massachusetts, which kicked off a 30-year career that saw her become one of the top players in the New York Metropolitan area. She turned down an offer to turn pro, got married in 1957 and started her family, while still focusing on golf. A member of Harbor Hills, Glen Oaks Club, and North Shore Country Club, Judy took home over 30 titles, including three Women’s Metropolitan Amateur match play titles, three WMGA stroke play titles, eight Women’s Long Island Golf Association match play titles, six WLIGA stroke play titles and six women’s Cross County Golf Association stroke play titles.

She won the Long Island Amateur stroke play title in 1982 by 22 shots. Judy was also a member of the 1965 U.S. Maccabiah Games team that won a team gold medal; she won silver in the individual event. She is a member of the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association and Long Island Sports Halls of Fame.

Despite her passion for the sport, Judy never let it take away from her family. She was fiercely loyal, protective, encouraging and proud of her children. She was just as loyal to her friends, maintaining deep friendships for more than 60 years with many of them.

Judy loved living in New York, especially taking advantage of Broadway and the many museums in the city. She ultimately moved to Florida in the late 1980s to escape the winters and then moved to McKinney, Texas, in 2005 to be closer to her son and grandson, both of whom live in Irving, Texas.

The family held a small, graveside service at Sparkman/Hillcrest in Dallas on May 25, 2022. In lieu of flowers and in celebration of her life and love for golf, the family requests donations be made to Girls Golf (www.girlsgolf.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Cooperstein family.