Richard Alan Cooter
Richard Cooter passed away at his home on August 31, 2023. He was 75 years old.
Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, he and his twin brother got to know the streets of the city at a young age and how to meet friends, and girls, anywhere but at home. This experience deepened his desire to leave his beginnings behind and find a broader and more hospitable world.
Graduating from SUNY Fredonia, where he had supported himself as a bartender/bouncer extraordinaire in that college town, Dick moved on to Washington DC and entered Law School at Georgetown University. He was hired as the youngest Chief of Labor Relations for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he worked full time while achieving his JD in 1975. Combining skills learned in government service with his new law license, he eventually began his law career in private practice.
After a law career of almost 30 years in commercial litigation, Dick made a significant change. He successfully concluded a big case and chose to expand his options by completing the PsyD Clinical Psychology Program at George Washington University in 2004. He then began his second career as a licensed Clinical Psychologist. Dick was a clinician at the James Madison University Counseling Center, nursing home therapist and consultant, and community based clinician. While employed as an Emergency Services clinician in Roanoke VA, he worked with some of society’s most vulnerable populations. This soon became his passion, and Dick regularly represented individuals in involuntary commitment hearings. He blended his legal background and clinical knowledge to create his third career in Forensic Psychology. Dick worked with law enforcement, courts and mental health facilities throughout southwest and central Virginia, providing competency evaluations and expert testimony in criminal trials. His goal was to focus on community safety while assuring that those with mental health challenges were treated fairly and provided useful treatment, whether in community services, incarcerated or found incompetent to stand trial. The courts often commented on how helpful it was to both the clients and the courts to have a clinician who also understood court constraints and process.
Dick taught Forensic Psychology at the college level since 2007. In 2012, he co-developed and implemented a Forensic Psychology Masters Program at George Washington University, where he remained until retirement. After his retirement in June 2022, he was inducted into GW's Society of the Emeriti for his long and distinguished service to the University. Dick worked tirelessly toward offering a quality academic experience for all students and deeply cared about them. His leadership, dedication and immeasurable contributions will be remembered by everyone in the program and the broader GWU community.
Over the years, Dick’s personal life remained a work in progress. Through the highs and lows, Dick sought personal understanding and growth. He became father to his beloved son Joe, found sobriety, found his soulmate, built a house on a lake and successfully separated from his chaotic beginnings. These personal achievements meant as much to Dick as his professional pursuits, and added to his passion for personal connection, ethical commitment, fairness, personal responsibility and choice. Dick left life peacefully at home with his wife Megan close by, and after conversation with his son Joe. His family by marriage, Matt, Carmen, Dan and older grandchildren Tyson, Natalie and Michael, checked on him from afar. He was surrounded by so many people who loved him, whether at his bedside or there in spirit. He passed quickly and will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favorite cancer research center.
Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.
