Dr. Dana Cope passed away at his home in Girard, Kansas, on Monday May 14, 2018 as a result of a long illness. He was born in Lawrence, Kansas, on December 16, 1954 to Dr. and Mrs. Denmar and Barbara Cope. They both preceded him in death.
Dr. Cope, Dana or “Cope”, as he was called by his many friends attended Horace Mann Elementary School, Lakeside Junior High, and Pittsburg High School. As a boy, Dana was active in the Boy Scouts under the tutelage of Scout Master Jack Quier. He rose to the rank of Life Scout. This was where he began to discover his passion for the outdoors and nature in general. Dana graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1973. While in high school, he played football for the Pittsburg Purple Dragons. As a boy, he often said that when he grew up he was going to become either “a professional football player or a paleontologist.” He became a much respected paleoanthropologist.
After high school, Dana hitchhiked through Northern California with his life-long friend James Ortolani in order to connect with Chris Nettles in Loyalton, California, where they found jobs for a lumber company felling trees. Their boss was known to speak highly of these “hard working Kansas boys” and was eager to hire them back the following year. They returned with a strong Pittsburg contingent.
Dana continued his education at Pittsburg State University where he was influenced by Dr. Frihart to pursue anthropology. Dana transferred to the University of Kansas. He became a full-fledged Jayhawk. At this time, he married Linda Hahnemann of Pittsburg. Dana received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Physical Anthropology at KU. He was accepted to the University of Texas in Austin for further graduate studies, receiving his Doctorate in Paleoanthropology. He was known to give his friends tours of the Balcones Research Center where he had befriended many of the animals, knowing them, not only by name, but by personality.
After the University of Texas, Dana taught at the university level in Fort Collins, Colorado (CSU), and in Genesee, New York (SUNY). He soon began at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. As a respected member of the Charleston faculty, he wrote and published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. He was avidly involved in a number of trips to the field. These trips into the back country of Colorado and Wyoming, as well as old Mexico, were some of Dr. Cope’s great adventures. He was accompanied by select students who learned hands-on the methodology of “the dig.” Many of their hominid fossil finds were noteworthy. At the time of Dana’s death, he was working on a paper on his most prized fossil find, which he believed would give rise to a heretofore undiscovered species. He referred to one particular fossil as “his precious.” Dana retired from C of C, as a full professor, due to his failing health. He returned to Southeast Kansas in 2017.
Most of Dana’s friends remember him a loving spirit, most alive in his enduring friendships. He was a lover of music and scholarly pursuits. He carried his trusty mandolin with him often, picking songs up from his fellow musicians. He loved family, good friends, cold beer, and Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho and Lefty.”
Dana is survived by his children, Nanci and Austin, currently residing in Philadelphia and Chicago respectively. They were once and always his greatest love. Many of his happiest recollections were with his children. He is also survived by his sister Susie Cope Reed and her husband Ty of Pittsburg, and several nieces and nephews.
Dana’s life was like that of a stone cast into a pond, the rings of influence he generated are spreading still. He is forever a blithe spirit, missed with a tear and a smile.
Dana has been cremated and no services are planned at this time. However, a celebration of life-jam will be scheduled at a future date. The family suggests memorials to themselves to cover various expenses. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 East 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.
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