Kenneth Michael Cooley

Kenneth Michael Cooley, age 75, of West Grove, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, September 19, 2024 with his wife and family by his side.  Born on December 23, 1948, in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Eldridge Cooley and the late and Gertrude Bertges Cooley.  

Ken graduated in 1965, at the young age of 16 from Grover Cleveland High School demonstrating his quick ability to learn and the strength of his mind.  He furthered his education at Hunter College in New York with a degree in accounting in 1971. Ken began his long and illustrious career as a Special Agent for the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division with the US Treasury Department beginning in NY and retiring in NJ.  After retiring from the IRS in 1998, he was employed for 10 years as a Special Agent for the NJ State Commission of Investigations in Trenton, NJ, retiring in 2010.  Ken met his wife, Maria, when they were both assigned to the Office of Independent Counsel, as IRS-CI special agents investigating the Iran Arms Sale/Contra Diversion in 1987. 

Ken was an avid photographer displaying many of his photos throughout his home.  He was a devoted collector of all things: stamps, coins, autographs, you name it!  Ken meticulously catalogued all his personal treasures.

After retirement, he and Maria moved to Ovations at Elkview Retirement Community in West Grove, Pennsylvania where he enjoyed the friendship of many new found friends and neighbors.  He enjoyed serving on the Finance Committee of his new community.  Ken and Maria were inseparable and shared a love for travel, family and friends.  They especially loved sharing the holidays with their family, grandchildren and nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Ken is survived by his wife, Maria Cooley (nee: Grabowski); daughters, Susan Reams (Matthew) and Meridith Dudzinski (Michael); grandchildren, Morgan, Jessica and Jake; sister, Marilyn Bennett of Centereach, NY; sisters-in-law, Elaine Barbagiovanni (John) and Helena Grabowski and many nieces and nephews  Ken is also survived by his first wife, Diane Lagerenzi.  In addition to his parents, Ken was pre-deceased by his grandson, Garrett Reams, who passed away in 2022.  

A viewing will be from 11:00AM until 12:00PM with a funeral service at 12:00PM on Monday, September 23, 2024 at the LONGWOOD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION of MATTHEW GENEREUX, 913 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square.  Burial will be private.  Services can be viewed by LIVESTREAM click here: START

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project DONATE or to the Alzheimer’s Association DONATE

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the Bayada Hospice Service who provided exceptional support to our family.

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