Mari-Rae Sopper
| Mari-Rae Sopper | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 19, 1966 |
| Died | September 11, 2001 (aged 35) The Pentagon Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Act of terrorism |
| Resting place |
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Monuments | National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Pentagon Memorial |
| Education |
Iowa State University (B. 1988) University of North Texas (M. 1993) University of Denver (J.D. 1996) |
| Occupation | Gymnastics coach and former lawyer |
| Employer | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Home town | Inverness, Illinois, U.S. |
| Website | www |
Mari-Rae Sopper (June 19, 1966 – September 11, 2001) was an American gymnastics coach and Judge Advocate General's Corps lawyer. She was a victim of the September 11 attacks as a passenger on hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 which crashed into The Pentagon.
Sopper was born on June 19, 1966, to Marion and Bill Sopper. She was a native of Inverness, Illinois. She attended William Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois and was a stand-out gymnast.
Sopper enrolled at Iowa State University and walked-on to their women's gymnastics team as a freshman. She was placed on scholarship for her final three years, culminating in being named "Most Valuable Gymnast" as a senior. She graduated from Iowa State University in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
Sopper went on to attend the University of North Texas, where she graduated with a master's degree in athletic administration in 1993. She earned her J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 1996.
In 1996, Sopper moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant. She worked for four years in this capacity before leaving for Schmeltzer Aptaker & Shepard. While working, Sopper continued to be involved with gymnastics and served on the coaching staffs of the United States Naval Academy women's gymnastics club team and at George Washington University.
Sopper was appointed as the head coach for UC Santa Barbara Gauchos' women's gymnastics team on August 31, 2001. UC Santa Barbara, just days earlier on August 10, had announced the immediate discontinuation of the program, but it was re-instated on August 13. Despite a pay-cut of over 70%, a salary of $98,000 as a lawyer to her new $28,000 women's gymnastics salary, and UC Santa Barbara officials stating the program's termination in a year, Sopper agreed to take the job. She was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 en route to Los Angeles International Airport to begin her new career. She was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
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