Mr. Cooper was a founding member of the Riverview staff.  In 1958 he was hired as our first choral director and music department chairman. John was born in Canada where his father was a respected musician. His father came to Florida for a music event and was discovered by Florida State University who quickly offered him a professor of music position.  John attended Leon HS and went on to Florida State to receive his bachelor’s degree.   After graduation he got a job in Panama City where he worked as a junior high school choral director. In 1955 on a trip to Ft. Myers for a wedding, he passed through Sarasota and couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.  He said, “Someday I am going to work here”. And three years later in 1958 he was hired as the choral director for the new school, Riverview High School.

As Riverview’s choral director, he started and built an amazing musical program.  Over 200 students were part of his five different chorus groups. The Advanced Senior Mixed Chorus performed on stage of the Florida Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City.  In 1966 he left the chorus program and became the assistant principal at Riverview until he retired in 1992.  The staff admired and respected his commitment to RHS.  He was responsible for scheduling our 1800 students without the use of a computer.  John also volunteered as the scorekeeper for the boys’ basketball team.  For 13 years he was the Choral Director at Trinity Methodist Church.