Public funeral services are Friday for former Milford fire chief John Cooper Sr., who died unexpectedly in his home at the age of 68.
Residents also will be able to say goodbye to the man who served as fire chief for 38 years at a visitation Thursday and along the route of a funeral procession through Milford after Cooper’s services Friday.
Cooper retired as chief of the Milford Community Fire Department at the end of 2015, but continued in a volunteer firefighter position.
“Chief Cooper was one of a kind,” Milford Mayor Laurie Howland said.
“He was instrumental in not only the formation of the Milford Community Fire Department but also of the city.
“Community was always very important to him,” Howland said.
Current Milford Fire Chief Mark Baird expressed “great sorrow” on behalf of the Milford Community Fire Department after learning Cooper had died April 14.