Obituary of Kenneth Soper

Kenneth Soper, a retired system’s analyst at New England Telephone, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning with his family at his bedside at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill. He was 82 years old. Ken was born in Cambridge, the son of Canadian immigrants, the late Allan and Mary Soper. He grew up in Cambridge until he was 12 years old and then his family moved to Winthrop. He loved living near the ocean. He was a graduate of Winthrop High School. He served in the US Coast Guard as a Petty Officer Second Class. He kept his connection to Winthrop and the Ocean as a member of the Cottage Park Yacht Club where he kept is boat named the “4-3-2-1”. After serving in the Coast Guard, he went to work with New England Telephone. He started as an installer and moved up to become a Systems Analyst. At the time of his retirement, Ken had been with the phone company for over 40 years. Ken was a very outgoing and involved member of the community. He spent many years as a coach in the Burlington Hockey Association. He also coached in the early days of the Burlington Youth Soccer Association. He was a Boy Scout Leader for 10 years as well. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge, experiences, and passions with his family, his friends and anyone that would listen. He was an active parishioner at the St. Paul Evangelical Church in Lexington. He had spent the last 12 years living in Windham, New Hampshire where he met so many new friends in his condo association and around town. He made a simple daily trip to get coffee at Dunkin Donuts, an afternoon gathering spot for his DD Gang, where they would share a cup of coffee and talk the hours away. Ken just had a natural and inviting way that made you feel welcomed and appreciated. Other activities he enjoyed were number-based puzzles, gardening, attending grandchildren activities and boating. He spent countless weekends with his family off the shores of Winthrop cruising and fishing. His boat, a sports fisherman, was named after he and his wife’s loving hand signal “4-3-2-1” which they shared throughout their 57 years of marriage to privately reaffirm their love and devotion for each other. He was a loving and supportive father and a very fun and loving grandfather. It gave him great joy to become a great grandfather as well. Ken was the loving husband of Joan (Bucknam) Soper of Windham, NH. He was the loving father of Kenneth A. Soper & his wife Susan of Auburn, Cheryl Luciano of Pelham, NH, and Stephen Soper & his wife Christine of Southwest Harbor, ME. He was the father-in-law of the late Anthony Luciano. He is the brother of Barbara Hayes of Burlington. Ken was also survived by 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St.,, BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 9:45 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Service At St. Paul Evangelical Church, 451 Lowell St., Lexington at 11 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to the Services and Wake. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ken’s name may be made to the Home Health Foundation, for the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 Merrimack St., Building 9, Lawrence, MA 01843.