SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Hugh Richardson knew when he answered the phone Monday morning and was asked to go to the hospital, that Don Cooper, one of his closest friends for the past 35 years, didn't have much longer to live.

Don Cooper died at Stanton Territorial Hospital on Monday after succumbing to cancer at the age of 63. In this photo is Don with his widow Kathy Bentley. - photo courtesy of Kathy Bentley

"He was a friend for life. Next to my family, he's been the most important person ... Our kids were the same age, we travelled together, he helped me through some very rough times as he did with many people."

Richardson arrived at the hospital and after speaking with the family, he went into Don's room to say goodbye one last time.

"We talked about how much he meant to me." A couple of hours later, Cooper passed away after succumbing to cancer, he said.

Cooper was a former deputy minister of the NWT Department of Justice, a former city councillor, and justice of the Supreme Court of the NWT. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Bentley, his three daughters Merrill Cooper, Megan Cooper and Margot Cooper, and his step-daughter McKenzie Bentley.

Cooper, who was born in Montreal on July 19, 1947, came to Yellowknife in 1975 after graduating from Queens University law school in 1973 and briefly practising law in Toronto. For 19 years, he worked in private practice as a defence lawyer and in family law. He left private practice in 1994 to become director of legal services for the GNWT. Two years later, he was appointed deputy minister in the Department of Justice, a position he held for more than 20 years. Then, in 2008, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of the NWT.

In a March 4 interview with Yellowknifer, Cooper said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve as a judge on the Supreme Court. He noted that he felt the "weight of the responsibility" towards the accused, the victim, families and the community in each case. One aspect of the position he admitted took some getting used to was the elevated status with becoming a Supreme Court judge.

"People treat you differently, and after six weeks or so of trying to say 'no, just call me Don' ... I gave up (trying)," he said with a chuckle.

However, in November 2010 he took a medical leave of absence and then submitted his resignation in January 2011. When asked, he said his resignation was a very difficult decision and not one he did lightly.

Another long-time friend and colleague, John Vertes, chief justice of the NWT Supreme Court, described Cooper as dedicated and committed to his work, both as a lawyer, civil servant and most recently as a judge with the Supreme Court. "Although his tenure as a judge was all too brief, he was very dedicated to his work and did his best and always tried to do what was just and right. You can't ask anything more," he said.

Richardson said he met Cooper about 35 years ago when Richardson was a client with Cooper's law firm. Shortly after, the two became friends through a common passion - golf. What followed were frequent golf trips with other friends to places such as Myrtle Beach and Cuba. Richardson said Cooper was famous among the group for staying on the driving range after the first day and continuing to hit balls long after everyone was done golfing. "The next morning he would show up and his fingers would be taped up and his back was sore and he'd have blisters on his feet. It was quite funny, actually."

Besides his professional life, Richardson said that Cooper touched many people in Yellowknife - through his work but also through his social life outside of the office. "His family was first, but he was very close to his friends," he said.

Richardson said the death of Cooper's first wife, Loraine Minish-Cooper, a former Crown prosecutor and director of the NWT Law Society, from cancer in 2002 had a devastating effect on the family, especially since Don was also diagnosed with cancer near the same time.

"I think what kept Don going was his three daughters being there and trying to keep the family going. But that had a devastating effect on the family."

Cooper married Kathy Bentley in the summer of 2009. Richardson said he's proud of the family for the way they've handled tragedy and stuck together over the years, especially near the end of Don's life.

"It was the most important thing for Don in his life that the family was back together, and I think he was happy with his life near the end. But it was because of Kathy and the rest of the family," said Richardson.

A memorial service will be held on Monday at 4 p.m. at the St. Patrick High School gym.

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