AUGUST COPPOLA
Coppola, August, a former literature professor who was the father of actor Nicolas Cage and brother of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, has died. He was 75. Coppola died Tuesday in Newport Beach, CA after suffering a heart attack. Often described as flamboyant and eccentric, Coppola taught comparative literature at Cal State Long Beach in the 1960s and ’70s and served as a trustee of the California State University system before moving to San Francisco State in 1984. He became dean of the School of Creative Arts there and was also professor of cinema until 1992. Coppola was born Feb. 16, 1934, in Hartford, Conn., the oldest child of Carmine Coppola, a composer and classically trained flutist, and his wife, Italia, a lyricist. The family moved often, depending on where Carmine’s work took them, but the children were close and enjoyed going to movies together and reading books. August Coppola earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from UCLA, a master’s in English from Hofstra University and a doctorate in comparative literature and interdisciplinary studies from Occidental College, then began teaching at Cal State Long Beach. He and his wife, dancer Joy Vogelsang, had three sons, Christopher, Marc and Nicolas, before divorcing. Christopher became a film director and Marc a disc jockey. He is survived by his brother, Francis Ford Coppola; his sister, Talia Shire; three sons, Christopher Coppola, Marc Coppola and Nicolas Cage; and six grandchildren. He is also survived by his companion, Lorrie Tennant. Funeral arrangements entrusted to: The Neptune Society Costa Mesa, CA. 949-646-7431
By legacy.com
