Well-known Saint Maartener, Malcolm Alfonso Cooper, better known as Alfonso or Fonso to many, passed away on Thursday January 19th in the Netherlands.
Fonso, son of the late Alfred Peterson and Elise Cooper both natives of St. Maarten was born in Curaçao and raised subsequently in St. Maarten, Aruba and Curacao and considered himself as a true Netherlands Antillean.
In the sixties he permanently settled in St. Maarten and – as civil servant of many years – was named Protocol Officer for the Netherlands Antilles, Division St. Maarten.
After that he was transferred to the Island Government of St. Maarten and was the Liaison –Officer for the various Lt. Governors up to his pension in the eighties.
Alfonso – known for his sharp opinions regarding political, as well as, social issues pertaining to the Islands of St. Maarten – joined the various political parties on the Island.
Next to that, he was also very active in the labor unions and was elected president of the W.I.C.S.U.
In the nineties, he re-immigrated to Curaçao with his family and after a few years decided to move to the Netherlands where he first settled in the city of Eindhoven and afterwards in The Hague.
As the years went by, he encountered some health challenges, but despite his illnesses, he enjoyed life as the bon vivant he has always been.
After a courageous fight, he lost his last battle and he passed away on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at the age of 84.
On behalf of his sister, children, grandchildren and extended family, we hereby announce the passing of
Mr. Malcolm Alfonso Cooper Sr.
Better known as Alfonso or Fonso.
He passed away on Thursday January 19th 2012 in the Netherlands.
Fonso, son of the late Alfred Peterson and Elise Cooper, both natives of Saint Maarten, was born in Curaçao on August 30th 1928 and raised subsequently in Saint Maarten, Aruba and Curaçao.
At the young age of 25 he first came to live in Curaçao from Aruba and began his carrier with the Government at the Department of Social Affairs, was transferred to the Customs Department and later went to work for the then Tourist Bureau. In the seventies, he settled in Saint Maarten as Protocol Officer for the Netherlands Antilles, in Saint Maarten, where he later became the Liaison – Officer for the various Lt. Governors up to his pension in the eighties.
Alfonso – known to many for his sharp opinions, joined the various political parties on both Saint Maarten and Curaçao and was also very active in the labor union and was elected president of the Civil servants union W.I.C.S.U. in Saint Maarten. In the nineties, he re-immigrated to Curaçao with his family and after a few years decided to move to the Netherlands where he first settled in the city of Eindhoven and afterwards in The Hague.
As the years went by, he encountered some health challenges, but despite his illnesses, he enjoyed life as the bon vivant he has always been. After a courageous fight, he lost his last battle and he passed away on Thursday, at the age of 83.
As he wished, his cremation will take place on Thursday January 26th 2012, 13:00 PM in the Netherlands at the Nieuw Eykenduynen Crematorium, Kamperfoeliestraat 2A, The Hague.
Opportunity to extend condolences are on Tuesday and Wednesday between 18.30 en 19.15 PM at the J.Henning Funeral Home, at Bautersemstraat 1, The Hague.
Condolence website: www.memorialwebsites.legacy.com/alfonsocooper
Condolence e-mail: alfonsocooper@yahoo.com
Phone in St. Maarten: +1 721 553-5845