Civic commitments

When their nominations were sought as Democratic Party candidates, although "honored with the prestigious invitation” both Kashmira and Homi Cooper of New York declined the offer, preferring to focus on their responsibilities as executive officers of Kissena Park Civic Association (KPCA). In collaboration with New York City councillors, State senators and US Congress representatives of their district, the Coopers are involved in organizing social and cultural activities to engage the residents of the area whilst ensuring that civic norms and safety issues are not compromised, explains Homi.
The couple currently runs HK Business Solutions Corporation, an independent consulting firm specializing in systems operations. Whilst Homi’s expertise lies in financial and managerial matters, Kashmira focuses on sales and marketing as also event management.

Previously Homi had enjoyed a long stint with Citicorp/Citibank North America which he had joined in 1979. As director of technology and operations, his team introduced several systems in diversified areas of the Bank, accomplished 14 mergers and acquisitions of banks and financial centers, and pioneered implementation of single sign-on authentication using biometric fingerprint technology to eliminate sharing of passwords, notes a write-up by Kumi Daroowala, president emeritus of the Rustom Baug Association, who takes pride in reporting the accomplishments of an ex Rustom Baug resident.
After completing his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute (VJTI), Homi qualified for a full scholarship from the Pratt Institute, New York to do his masters in computer science which he completed in one year. With financial assistance from the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and the R. D. Sethna Trust, plus the work-study program on the college campus he was able to support himself and pay off the student loans. He remembers going to the US with only $ 400 under very stringent regulations of the Reserve Bank of India. There was only one person, another VJTI ex student, known to him in the US when he first landed there!
Sympathetic to the needs of subsequent generations of students, over the last three decades the couple has opened their doors to "continuously welcome, support and guide” Zoroastrian children who have gone to the US for higher studies. Religiously inclined, they have regular prayers at their home and senior priest Ervad Pervez Patel believes that the maximum number of Zoroastrian prayer ceremonies in North America are performed at the Cooper residence. Living 80 miles away from the New York Darbe Mehr they are not regular visitors there although Homi mentions he had served as chairman of the ad hoc committee for problem resolution when the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York had differences with their earlier mobed.
The Coopers retain their ties with India, and Homi serves as a director of Sweekar and Upkaar organizations in Secunderabad that look after mentally challenged children. He takes pride in mentioning that his father, the late Ratanshaw Sorabji Cooper took over as the chief executive officer of the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Company after the British left India and he was required to oversee both electrification and transportation. Following his retirement from BEST Ratanshaw became principal owner of Hindustan Master Cable Layers and Jointers which completed electrification for Thana Electric Supply Company (TESCO) by converting power supply from overhead wires to more efficient underground cables. He also installed the first signals for traffic control at Kemps Corner, Bhendi Bazaar and J. J. Hospital, states Homi.