COOPERS POISON IVY
OUR STORY
In the mid 1980s, Lee and Pat Cooper left the sunny landscapes of Woodland Hills, CA, for the lush surroundings of Harvard, MA, fulfilling a long-held dream to return to the place where their paths first crossed in Boston. A decade after Lee earned his PhD, he had navigated the challenges of professional life in Los Angeles, but a new opportunity arose: a position at a tech firm in Waltham, MA. This reignited his passion for building a rustic log cabin in the woods.
After acquiring land and three years of construction, the Coopers finally settled into their 3.5-acre woodland retreat in Harvard, Massachusetts. Their children—Dan, Melanie, and Susie—explored the new property, discovering trees, rocks, and, unfortunately, large patches of poison ivy. Drawing on his scientific background, Lee embarked on a mission to protect his family from this pervasive threat.
After experimenting with manual removal and various chemicals, Lee found success with a special glyphosate and emulsifier mixture, which safely eradicated the poison ivy. Over the years, he kept the area clear, a feat many in New England considered impossible. In the early 1990s, Dan, inspired by a conversation with his father, founded Coopers Poison Ivy Services, a business dedicated to helping others manage their poison ivy problems. As the business grew, Dan juggled his entrepreneurial venture with academic pursuits, ensuring financial stability through his college years. After graduation, Dan moved to Chicago to pursue a career in impact investing and international diplomacy, while Lee ran the business during the summers and weekends, all while serving as CEO of his tech firm in Waltham.
Now, after 35 years, Cooper Poison Ivy Services stands as a testament to the Cooper family’s entrepreneurial spirit and their dedication to keeping families and communities safe from poison ivy in eastern Massachusetts.