Jeff Cooney, who served on the National Football Foundation (NFF) Board of Directors from 2001 to 2010 and the creative director/co-owner of EUE/Screen Gems, died Feb. 12. He was 60.
In the fall of 2001, Cooney, a former Division I-A college receiver at Holy Cross and an award-winning filmmaker, was hired to make a film about Play It Smart, the NFF’s highly successful mentoring program for at-risk student-athletes. While directing the 30-minute award-winning documentary, Cooney fell in love with the program, and he decided that he would fully fund a local school at $25,000 a year in Westchester County, New York where he grew up playing quarterback for Bronxville High School. Cooney funded the Mount Vernon program for many years, and he developed a close relationship with many of the coaches and student-athletes.
“Play It Smart gives me an opportunity to get close to the youth in our community,” said Cooney in 2007 after having funded the program for five years . “Usually you’re sitting in the stands or watching kids on TV. Through Play It Smart, I am really able to get close to these kids and the community and what’s going on in their lives. I see the development in the character of the kids.”
Cooney most recently served as the executive producer of the Emmy-nominated National Geographic “Genius” series on Albert Einstein as well as the upcoming feature in the series, “Picasso.” Cooney had been struggling with intense pain associated with small fiber neuropathy.
A director and producer, Cooney started his life in front of the camera as a child actor for Cream of Wheat, and he appeared in more than 50 national television commercials. His father, George Cooney, was a Columbia Pictures executive prior to purchasing EUE/Screen Gems in 1982. Jeff Cooney, the oldest of four children, served as executive producer and creative director at a division called EUE/Sokolow focused on content development.
After graduation from Holy Cross, Jeff started his own production company with a desire to work as a director. Jeff later joined EUE/Screen Gems as a principal and director. Over the next 30 years, Jeff would travel the globe directing commercials for clients such as UPS, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, KFC and Visa.
In 2010, Cooney and television producer Sam Sokolow founded EUE/Sokolow to develop, produce and sell programming.
“We have created an environment where we have complete freedom to pick and choose the material we want to develop and sell to networks,” Cooney said at the time. EUE/Sokolow has worked on numerous projects for networks that include HBO, ABC and NBC as well as National Geographic. The company has attracted top talent, developing projects with Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas and Lisa Ling, directors such as Linda Mendoza and showrunners such as Caryn Lucas, John Lehr, Nancy Hower and Blair Singer.
EUE/Screen Gems COO Chris Cooney, who worked with his brother as an executive producer for “Genius” and as co-owner of EUE/Screen Gems, says his brother will be remembered for his selflessness.
“He put others first in a business that could be intensely competitive,” Chris said. "Jeff was also dedicated to mentoring high school students in underserved areas and was deeply involved with Play It Smart."
Sharon Cooney Shuttleworth, Jeff’s sister and fellow co-owner of EUE/Screen Gems remembers the gift Jeff was to his family and others.
“Everyone who met him fell in love with him. He cared so much about people and was so giving of his time and his heart. He will be missed and lovingly remembered every day,” she said.
“Jeff will be remembered as a mentor to many, including myself, being five years younger,” said John Cooney, Jeff’s brother. “He gave many a kid their first jobs in film and television. Jeff was always a role model for excellence on the set. Whether as a childhood actor or later as a director, Jeff was a pro with a huge heart.”
Cooney is survived by his wife, Anja M. Cooney of Bronxville, New York and his children Nicholas and George Cooney. He is also survived by his parents, Cynthia Rose and George Cooney of Bronxville, New York; his brother Chris Cooney of Chappaqua, New York and his wife Charlotte Lovschal Cooney and children Alison and Erik Cooney; his sister Sharon Cooney Shuttleworth of Manalapan, Florida, and her children Will and Margaret Shuttleworth and her husband Guy Pepper; his brother John Cooney of Boulder, Colorado and wife Wendy Ewen Cooney and children Lindsey and Kelly Cooney.
Private services for Cooney will be held for the immediate family. A memorial service and celebration of Cooney will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Westchester County Chapter, New York. Contributions may be made online or mailed to 30 Glenn Street, Suite 409, White Plains, NY 10603.
