08/02/2025
MICHAEL WESLEY COOPER
7/10/1985 – 7/11/2025
We are beyond heartbroken to share the passing of one of our own, Michael Cooper. Cooper passed away at his beloved home in Spain last month, having recently achieved his dream of living abroad. He had just turned 40. As a team, we are still at a loss for words and deeply grieving our friend, our brother. Cooper’s life was a legacy of love and laughter, and we count ourselves beyond grateful that we got to share these last four years with him as a member of our family.
Coop, or as he was affectionally known, “Line Daddy”, joined our team as a Wildland Paramedic in the summer of 2021 after meeting some of our crew members at the Bootleg Fire and forming fast friendships forged by fire, moondust, and the never-ending chaos of that assignment. He came to us with a wealth of experience, having started in EMS sixteen years ago, with over fourteen years as a paramedic and five years flying as an FP-C. Most of Cooper’s EMS experience has been in the incredibly busy and complex systems of Detroit, MI, where there were no shortages of critical calls and complicated traumas. His knowledge was secondary only to the passion he had for the profession. He held us and himself to the highest possible standard. He went above and beyond for his crews on every deployment and elevated the standard of care for everyone around him. If you’ve ever worked with him, you know he always goes the extra mile to advocate and provide for his crews and will never back down from standing up for what he believed was right.
Outside of Wildland, he helped every division at Adventure Medics, whether it was teaching classes, working events or even taking some of the early (and brutal) IFT shifts. He did it all with a laugh, a smile, empathy, and dedication to the profession. Coop brought more than just skill and dedication to the job, he brought heart. Whether it was words of encouragement on a tough day, a shared laugh in the breakroom, or an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing, Cooper made an impact on all of us.
In 2024, Cooper set out on his next adventure, and began practicing offshore medicine, which gave him opportunities to expand his clinical knowledge, prioritize his health and happiness, and allowed for more travel and adventure – including his move to Spain. Despite having a full-time job at sea, Cooper still made the trip back to Oregon at least once or twice a summer – to say hi, share a laugh, and even continue deploying on wildland fires. He was supposed to be back with us in Bend this July.
Cooper had a way of making work feel less like work and more like a true adventure. Sure, he could be loud and crass at times (if you’ve met him, you will NEVER forget it!), but he would never hesitate to go the extra mile to help you and never expected anything in return. Beyond the job, Cooper was a remarkable person. He was kind, generous, and full of integrity and warmth. He showed us how to care deeply, live life to the fullest, and never take a single day for granted. He was uniquely and fully himself. Whether on the river, in the office, or across the division breakout, Cooper would make us laugh until we cried. Now, we are clinging to those threads of laughter among our tears as we share stories and photos of Cooper. We are heartbroken to lose Cooper, but we are also deeply grateful to have known him. The legacy Cooper leaves behind is not just in the work completed, but in the friendships forged, the lives touched, and the example set. Please hold his family, friends, beloved dog Bella, and all of his loved ones in your hearts as they navigate their way through this unimaginable loss.
We will miss you dearly, Line Daddy.
Thank you for everything.
Your memory will remain with us, not just today, but always. ✌️❤️🤙
