Crispin "Cris" James Kope, 67, of Metuchen passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on April 11, 2022.  Cris was born in Elizabeth, NJ, to Alphonse and Lottie Kope on July 14, 1954. He grew up in Rahway, NJ, and has lived in Metuchen for the past 30 years. He was a graduate of Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, and was a Graphic Designer owning his own business Crispin Kope Design.

Cris loved all things having to do with art, music, nature and his family.  He started his career in New York City at Hearst publishing for Town and Country magazine. He then took a position at Herman Associates ad agency on Madison Avenue where he met his wife Damaris, a small-town girl from PA. They bonded over knowing the same ethnic foods of pierogie and cabbage rolls and were married in the Russian Orthodox church on September 30, 1989. They traveled to many places including CA, Europe, and Hawaii. Cris, also a musician, enjoyed playing his guitar every day. He played the drums when his wife left the house to go shopping. That drum set made him very popular with some of the kids in the neighborhood who like to bang on them too. In addition, he played the banjo, harmonica, fiddle and piano and was often tapping a beat with his fingers and humming a tune. His extensive record and CD collection has every type of music (except rap). He loved family vacations on Long Beach Island and Cape May and always had his binoculars ready to view the distant boats and dolphins. Holiday meal preparations meant a lot to him and he enjoyed talking about the Christmas menu and making his famous mashed potatoes. He was a devoted father to his daughter Olivia and made sure she was never late for an art, music or dance class and he always picked her up on time. Cris loved to work in his yard cultivating flowers and kept a gardening journal to record each season. He especially loved red geraniums in terracotta pots.  He was a talented artist that loved to paint in oils and design corporate logos. He was an avid reader and knew a great deal about history and politics.

Cris was preceded in death by his parents, Alphonse and Lotttie Kope.

Cris is survived by his wife, Damaris, of 33 years; his daughter, Olivia; his brothers: Gregory, Timothy and Daniel Kope; and his dogs, Biscuit and Barnaby.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, April 15, 2022, from 4 to 7 PM at Flynn and Son / Koyen Funeral Home, 319 Amboy Ave., Metuchen.  A memorial service will held at the funeral home at 11 AM on Saturday officiated by Dan Sponenburg.

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society.