Elizabeth Cooper Land

Elizabeth Cooper Land, 98, of Atlanta, Georgia, formerly a longtime resident of Westport, Connecticut, passed away on December 24, 2025. Liz was born on May 8, 1927 in New York City, the daughter of Morris and Alice Cooper.

She attended the Lincoln School in New York City and entered Smith College at age 16, one of the youngest members of her class. She left Smith upon her marriage in 1945, and fifty-three years later returned at age 73, proudly finishing her degree as the oldest member of the class of 2000.

Liz was married to her beloved husband, Gay Land, for 73 years. They worked together on the Manhattan Project; Gay was a chemical engineer, while Liz was a human “computer,” one of the young women who performed calculations for the team.

They made their home in Westport for more than sixty years, and Liz introduced Gay to sailing, which became a mutual passion. She was a Life Member of Cedar Point Yacht Club, and at the time of her death was their oldest member. Liz sailed everything from one-design to cruising class, and she also enjoyed windsurfing, which she took up in her fifties.

In 1956 Liz was a founding member of the Young Women’s League of Westport. She was a PTA President, and was a choir member and active in leadership at the United Methodist Church for her entire time in Westport. She was also a busy member of the Westport Garden Club, a fundraiser for the Westport Library and for Interfaith Housing, and a counselor in Fairfield for unwed mothers.

Those who knew her will cherish memories of her love of her family and her delight in gardening, music, bridge, tennis, sewing, travel, and tournament croquet.

Liz is survived by her children, David Land and his wife Carrie of Fairfield, Connecticut; Ellie Murphy and her husband Martin of Southport, North Carolina; Cindy Humphries and her husband Bill of Atlanta, Georgia; Stephen Land and his wife Jane of North Pomfret, Vermont. She is also survived by five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss her humor and her steadfast support.

A service honoring her memory will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston.

The family requests that donations be made in her memory to Oxfam America to support their global efforts to end the injustice of poverty. Donations may be sent to 77 North Washington Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114 or made online at Oxfam America.