John C. Petagna

John C. Petagna Jr., known to everyone as Cooper, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. He was the son of the late John C. Petagna and Elizabeth Geary Petagna of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Born in New Orleans in 1949, Cooper was a proud graduate of Jesuit High School and Loyola University in New Orleans. A true son of Louisiana, he remained an intensely loyal LSU football fan throughout his life.

After graduating from Loyola University in 1972, Cooper and his beloved wife, Alice, moved to Tampa before settling in St. Petersburg in 1977, where he began building his business career.

Cooper was the founding president of American Municipal Securities in 1980, a firm that later became Amuni Financial. His personal and business reputation among colleagues, regulators, fellow employees, and competitors was a source of great pride to him.

The company he founded continues to thrive today, embodying the values that were dear to his heart. Cooper loved seeing those around him reach their full potential. Away from business, he had a deep love of family and American history, music, chess, exploring and the freedom he found both on the water and in the air.

Everyone who knew Cooper knew him as the life of the party. He loved his family and friends, and genuinely loved living life. He made life more fun and exciting for everyone around him. His escapades and profound joy in this wonderful world will be forever remembered by his family, many friends, and business associates. He was well loved, deeply respected, adored and he will be missed.

He is survived by his one and only favorite wife of 54 years, Alice; his daughter, Lindsay, and her husband, Rob Russell, and their sons, Cooper, Robert, and Tee; his son, Michael, and his wife, Jennie, along with their daughters, Laine and Kate; and his son, Stephen.

Mr. Petagna is also survived by his ten siblings: sisters Peggy (Lea) Fisk, Beth Charlton, Gayle (Fred) Sisk, Lynn (Chuck) Betack, Penny (Kenny) McIntosh, and Patty (Steve) Mayeux; and brothers Keith (Sid), Brent (Lisa), Bryan, and Stephen Petagna, along with their children and what feels like three thousand nieces, nephews and cousins. He loved them all.

The family would like to thank the staff and caretakers who loved and cared for Cooper during the last few years of his life, and whom he loved in return.

A funeral Mass for the repose of his joyful soul will be celebrated at Saint Paul’s Catholic Church, 1800 12th Street North in St. Petersburg, on July 28 at 10:30 a.m.