Testimonial Thursday

~ John Copp Story ~

Today we would like to pay tribute to an Ibex client who died last year, John Copp, the father of Jonny Copp, a well-known mountaineer, friend an Ibex client who lost his life in a mountaineering accident in China in 2009.

We would like to share a lovely story from the Fullerton Observer about John, and a beautiful poem written by Jonny, dedicated to his father on his 60th birthday.

Mandip and Anita had the privilege of meeting John in 2011, not long before his cancer was detected.

"John Bernard Copp

 John Copp was born in Springfield, Illinois on June 22, 1944. He was the youngest child of eight and the only son of immigrant parents John and Appolona Copp. John passed away on October 15th, 2012 at his home in Fullerton, California, with his loving wife Phyllis by his side, after a 2-year battle with cancer. He also  leaves daughter Aimee, five sisters and hundreds of family members, friends, and co-workers from  around the world. One of his great sorrows was that his son, Jonny Copp, a renowned alpine mountain  climber, died at age 35 in an avalanche in China in 2009. John and Jonny are deeply missed by all those who loved them.

John married Phyllis in 1970, and together they moved to Luxembourg, then on to Indonesia and Thailand for work and life. A few years later son Jonathan was born, and the family set out on a year-long adventure
traveling around the world in a camper. Eventually the family settled in Fullerton where Phyllis’ family lived,  and daughter Aimee was born.

At age 39, John invented his own press design and started his business, Orange Engineering and Machine Company (OEM). John set the standard for vacuum lamination presses and patented the OEM Vac-Q-Lam design as well as other inventions. His presses have been used in the manufacturing of high-tech products for companies like Boeing, Dupont, Dow, US Army, Nike, Microsoft and many more. John combined the unusual talents of an inventor and mechanical engineer with and outstanding sales savvy and took great interest in each employee and customer. At one point he employed over 180 people and OEM is still going strong today. His employees saw him as an inspiring leader, a man of compassion and kindness, fairness and  empathy. He was an open minded teacher who fostered creativity and made work fun and exciting. His OEM team became like a family and he cared deeply for each of them. The feeling was mutual.

John was a global citizen with enormous curiosity and drive to learn and explore. Whether it was running  through the jungles of Indonesia with the HHH, skydiving out of a plane, traversing a river in India, racing motorcycles in Luxembourg, jogging in Hillcrest Park with his dog, playing tennis or golf, or just passing the  time with a friend or with family, John did it with enthusiasm and gusto. Telling his jokes and playing his guitar, John had a knack for turning an ordinary gathering into a party. He welcomed everyone into his fold. What could be given he gave. He loved his family and friends, the animals, and the earth and had a generosity of  spirit, an open mind and heart, and was witty with an engaging smile. He passed his flame, his torch, to  family, friends, and fellow adventurers, poets, musicians and to all he encountered. He taught all of us fortunate enough to cross his path how to be fearless and to live life to the fullest. He lives forever in our hearts.

A private memorial was held on November 16th. The family wishes to expresses gratitude for all of the love  and support they continue to receive.

For those wishing to honor John with a memorial gift, donations may be made to the TheJonnyCoppFoundation.org."

60 Years

Speeding orbits
Bending time
Weightless and exact
Gypsy spirit
Bounding sublime
Robust and emerging intact

The finer elements
Light refracts
Fiery tendrils dance
A blooming burst
Nuts and bolts
A finely built romance

In spaces unknown
Bright neurons fire
Fearless acrobat
The way you are
We all aspire
Reaching out to make contact

The oyster world
Would not be the same
Had you not graced its land
A dream set sail
By an open-ocean laugh
Like the pearl from a grain of sand

You’ve asked your friends
To share a dance
And then you’ve asked the world
From launching bikes in Luxembourg
To finding kingdoms paved with gold

From steeling across fields
With weight in hand
To going down in flame
From busting knuckles raw
And leaf springs in two
But laughing cuz you see the game

Over mountain and down beyond
A mustached man was seen
Tipping in for a naked dip
To a cool colossal stream

A stream like this is seldom found
Yet it flows right at our feet
Be fearless now and take a dip
For it is there where we shall meet

by Jonathan Copp
His gift to his father, John,

on his 60th birthday.