Richard “Rick” Phillip Coupland, Jr.

August 5, 2026

Richard Phillip Coupland, Jr., lovingly known as Rick, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the age of 80.

Rick was born on August 25, 1945, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Richard Phillip Coupland and Irma Eileen Coupland (Shacklett). He is survived by his devoted wife, Cordy Coupland, of Flagstaff, Arizona; his stepson, Shawn Springs, of Augusta, Georgia; his sisters, Mary Dinkel (Jim) of Wichita, Kansas, and Ann Erickson (Steve) of Birmingham, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Shana Elizabeth Coupland, and by his parents.

From an early age, it was evident that Rick possessed extraordinary intellectual gifts. He had an exceptional aptitude for mathematics and technology, along with an insatiable curiosity about how things worked. As a young boy, he developed a passion for electronics, assembling his own amateur (Ham) radio station and earning his novice amateur radio license at the age of ten, communicating in Morse code. He quickly advanced to a higher class of license, enabling him to communicate by voice with fellow operators around the world.

Rick’s remarkable talents extended well beyond electronics. At just sixteen years old, he soloed an airplane and earned his private pilot’s license on his birthday.

Rick attended Kemper Military Academy in Boonville, Missouri, and later studied at the University of Kansas.

Throughout his professional career, Rick was an innovator and visionary. He played a key role in the development of one of the first computerized hotel reservation systems, helping to usher in a new era of technology for the hospitality industry.

Music was another of Rick’s lifelong passions. An accomplished pianist, he spent countless hours playing, composing, and exploring the relationship between music and mathematics. Combining these gifts, Rick became a pioneer in the emerging field of electronic music. He designed and built one of the earliest prototype digital synthesizers, a groundbreaking achievement. His work, along with the original prototype, is preserved as part of the permanent collection at the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale, Arizona—a lasting testament to his creativity and innovation.

While Rick’s accomplishments were extraordinary, those who knew him best will remember something even greater. He lived a life marked by integrity, kindness, and quiet humility. He was known for his brilliant mind, gentle sense of humor, generous spirit and unwavering character.

Rick will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all whose lives he touched. His legacy lives on not only through his remarkable achievements, but through the countless people he made feel heard, valued and loved.