Col. Lanny Arthur Kope

Col. Lanny Arthur Kope

United States Marine, retired
October 29, 1933 ~ July 3, 2026

Lanny Arthur Kope passed peacefully at the age of 92 July 3, 2026 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Lanny was born in Chicago Illinois October 29, 1933 and moved to Phoenix at a young age where he grew up and attended school.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Mary Ellen Kope, children, Susan Aaron, Kenneth Godfrey wife Liz, daughter Sharon Huber, husband Bill. Grandchildren, Aaron J. Aaron, Desiree Aaron, Max Aaron, Sheena Crockett, Stacey Godfrey, Hanna Rather, Evan Rather. Great grandchildren Jordan, Shane, Adrian, Evelyn, Kian, Adi, Will, Beverly, Henry and Emmett. Lanny's son, Ken, wife Katy, grandchildren Sarah, Kyle. Preceded in death, Kathy Kope.

Dr. Kope was active in healthcare governance for over thirty years. Serving on the boards of two rural hospitals and one urban hospital in Arizona, he provided service and leadership to the communities of Phoenix, Payson, and Sierra Vista, where concluded his involvement as a Director and Vice Chair on the Board of the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona. He also served as the Board Chair of Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. Dr. Kope was also the Board Chairman of PMH Health Resources, Phoenix Memorial Hospital, Payson Regional Medical Center Foundation, and The Arizona Hospital Federation, a ten member Arizona hospital group. He was a member of the Board of the Arizona Emergency Medical Systems and a member of Arizona Hospital and Healthcare System's Government Affairs Committee.

With leadership responsibilities at the national and regional levels, Dr. Kope was the Chairman of AHA's Committee on Governance and AHA's Leadership Development Committee. He had been a member of the AHAPAC Steering Committee as well. In addition, he completed an assignment as a member of JCAHO's Leadership Accountability Task Force. He also served as Chair of AHA's Trustee Leadership Network task force. He was a member of the Center for Healthcare Governance's Blue Ribbon Panel on Trustee Core Competencies. In 2008 he was named as the Political Advocacy Champion for Arizona by the AHA and AzHHA. Dr Kope served on the National Board of Advisors, Center for Healthcare Governance, AHA. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player 2011 and 2012 for the AzHHA/AHA PAC.

Serving as a member of AHA's Regional Policy Board 8, Dr. Kope was instrumental in chairing and establishing the Western Regional Trustee Symposium. He was honored by this group for his service and leadership.

Dr. Kope has been a speaker at national, regional, state and local health care educational programs and wrote a bi-monthly column on healthcare for the Sierra Vista Herald.

Holding an earned doctorate in School Administration and Supervision from Arizona State University, Dr. Kope taught at all academic levels from Junior High to Graduate School and has been a faculty member with the University of Phoenix for over twenty years. He served as a high school principal in Phoenix, Arizona for many years. Upon leaving public education, Dr. Kope held a position of major responsibility with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division as well as with the Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation Commission.

He served for thirty-two years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, retiring with the rank of Colonel.

In addition to healthcare, civic activities in which he has been involved include serving as the Chairman of the Arizona State Lottery Commission and on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts in Phoenix where he received the "Thanks Badge", the highest honor bestowed by the Girl Scouts to an adult volunteer. He also served as the President of the Coronado Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Sierra Vista and is a past member of AARP's Executive Council for Arizona.

Dr. Kope's personal philosophy has always been: Do your job better than the person who gave it to you thought possible.

The Celebration of Life will be held August 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM at the Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, 3225 St. Andrews Drive. Reception following the Celebration of Life service will be held at the Legacy Foundation Event Center. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Salvation Army.

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