William Randall Cooper

William Randall Cooper (“Randy”) was born Wednesday, September 23, 1942, in Mecca, California, and died Saturday, July 18, 2026, after illnesses including cancer and Parkinson’s disease. He was 83.

A self-taught sculptor and founder of Cooper Creations, Inc., Randy dedicated his later life to fine art. He pioneered shadow sculpture, shaping figures from wire mesh that light transformed into striking images cast on the wall. World-renowned for these sculptures, his work sold internationally for more than 25 years.

In 2009 and 2010, Randy created large-scale wire-mesh sculptures fitted over fossilized skeletons of four extinct marine mammals. Three remain on permanent display in the Age of Mammals exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Before becoming a full-time artist, Randy worked in construction and logging, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, and taught mathematics and special education in Idaho. He later joined Westinghouse at INL as a radiation worker before creating its Quality Circle Program. After moving to Carlsbad, New Mexico, he developed the Total Quality Program at WIPP, earning Westinghouse recognition at both facilities.

Randy was a writer and poet. He wrote memoir and poetry and collaborated with his wife, Susan, on the novel Moment of Death and a nonfiction book about their life and love. A longtime Toastmaster, he enjoyed public speaking.

An accomplished athlete, Randy played football and wrestled in high school and college, becoming a heavyweight champion. He later competed in Greco-Roman wrestling, earning a championship and an invitation to a 1972 Olympic training camp he could not attend because of the expense. He also earned a brown belt in judo and, after taking up taekwondo in his early seventies, a black belt.

Susan was the love of Randy’s life and his partner in life and creativity. Devoted to his family, he lived with enthusiasm, curiosity, humor, and wholehearted commitment. A friendly extrovert, he loved conversation, storytelling, laughter, and connection.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; son Darin and his wife, Morgen; daughter Carol Cooper-Fahrenkrug, her wife, Anna, and their daughter, Willow; son Ryan, his wife, Kelly, and their children, Adora and Greyson; and sister Myra Holmes.

A lifelong Episcopalian and longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, Randy’s funeral will be held there at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2026, at 318 Silver Avenue SW, Albuquerque. His remains will be interred at the Cathedral.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Randy’s memory to the Cathedral of St. John, the Parkinson’s Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, or Keshet Dance and Center for the Arts.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. The world is a sadder place without Randy in it.