Obituary of Alexa Cucopulos

Our beloved Alexa Natalya Cucopulos, 25, of Franklin Lakes, peaceably passed away in her sleep on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at her residence in Durham, North Carolina where she was a graduate student at Duke University. Alexa earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Emory University, where she was an honors student, a Phi Beta Kappa recipient in her junior year, and the winner of the Paul Kuntz Prize for the best-performing senior in philosophy. At the time of her passing she was in her third year in the Duke University Literature PhD program and was also pursuing a certificate in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. Alexa was a promising scholar and activist who was drawn to philosophy, poetry, language, and justice. But more than her scholarly achievements, Alexa possessed an incredible sense of beauty and was an accomplished artist, writer and equestrian as well as a fantastic chef. In addition, she was loving, kind and so very witty. She will be deeply and sorely missed by all of her family, friends and colleagues. Alexa is adored and survived by her parents Gregory and Deborah Cucopulos and her brother Nicholas. She loved to spend time with her immediate and extended family and is also survived by her many, many aunts and uncles and cousins who now deeply mourn her loss. She will be in eternal rest with her grandparents Catherine and Natale Formica and Mary and Nicholas Cucopulos. Donations can be made in her memory to The National Stem Cell Foundation: https://nationalstemcellfoundation.org/research/ as well as the Arthritis National Research Foundation: https://curearthritis.org Due to the current social restrictions, a private service will be held for the immediate family only. A memorial service and celebration of Alexa’s life will be held at a future date. If you would like to share a memory of Alexa or send condolences to the family, please visit our Tribute Wall on the Vander Plaat Funeral Home web site, www.vpfh.com. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.