Patricia Cooper Fast

Patricia Cooper Fast, 90, died peacefully on May 22 at the Parlin Hospice Residence in Wayland after a short illness. Pat was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, a devoted friend, an enthusiastic nature lover and a faithful Christian. She was born to Edna Pearsall Cooper and Frederic W. Cooper on February 19, 1927 in Jacksonville, Florida and was educated in the Westfield, NJ public schools. A member of the class of 1946 at Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT, Pat worked as a medical secretary for the following decade. She married Robert B. Fast of Cranford, NJ in 1958, whom she met on a blind date arranged by mutual friends.

The couple resided in Glen Rock and Ridgewood, NJ for 27 years, where they raised their two children. Upon retiring in 1985, Pat and Bob built a home in E. Poultney, VT, where Pat served three terms on the Alumni Board of her alma mater, and was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996. After living in VT for 25 years, both in E. Poultney and Rutland, the couple relocated in 2010 to Marlborough, MA to be closer to their family.

Pat was an active member of West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood, E. Poultney Baptist Church, Grace Congregational Church, Rutland, and Memorial Congregational Church, Sudbury. She served in many leadership capacities in each parish, including flower committee chair, choir member, several terms as a deacon and many other volunteer positions over her lifetime. Pat also enjoyed chairing her local Audubon Society chapter in Ridgewood, the Garden Club of Poultney, playing tennis, and traveling extensively with Bob.

Pat's greatest passion, other than her family and church work, was birding. Pat began her life list at age 10, when she would go on solo walks to watch birds in the woods near her childhood home. Her avid birdwatching led her to many locales all over the US, Central and South America and Europe to learn about flora and fauna across the globe. Pat and Bob particularly loved the nature around them at their second home in Long Lake, NY which gave them great joy for 40 years.

Pat is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Coffin, son-in-law, Andrew, grandchildren, Calvin, Eliza and Rachel of Concord, and several dear nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her beloved son Robert B. Fast, Jr. in 1982, her cherished sister, Mary Elizabeth C. Scudder in 1990, and her husband of 58 years in 2016. Pat had many dear friends and was a faithful letter-writer, staying connected over the years and miles with many.

A celebration of Pat's life will be held at Memorial Congregational Church, 26 Concord Rd., Sudbury on Thursday, June 8 at 1:00 pm. Interment in the Adirondacks will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Green Mountain College, 1 Brennan Circle, Poultney, Vermont 05764, or to the charity of your choice.