John Cope Leadership Award

This annual award is named after John Cope, Technical Director of Wedgwood, and a pioneer in developing the fine tabletop industry’s response to the Lead Migration Issue and California’s Proposition 65.  In addition to a remarkable career in the ceramics industry, John became a focal point for the ceramic and crystal industry’s response to the public hysteria concerning lead in the early 1990’s.  John Cope served on the Executive Committees of both the Coalition for Safe Ceramicware (CSC) and the International Crystal Federation (ICF).  He worked tirelessly to develop solutions which satisfied the international regulatory organizations and preserved the tabletop industry’s good standing with the public.

 John Cope died tragically in June, 2001.  He will always be remembered for his boundless energy, dedication and determination, imagination and ingenuity, motivation and generosity, enthusiasm, sense of humor and commitment to others.  His famous self-description as “a simple potter” always relaxed everyone and helped move the group discussions along on a collegial basis.  John’s 10 years of service to the ICF is truly noteworthy because he was very busy doing his “regular job” and working for the CSC.

John said that he enjoyed working with the ICF because “he felt like he was at home” in the group.  He will be sorely missed. 

 The International Crystal Federation honors John’s memory annually during the “formal dinner” of the ICF Technical Exchange Conference.  His love and dedication was to his family and the industry he served so well and the award in his name is treasured by all.

The ICF Chairman and Vice-Chairman nominate the recipient of the John Cope Leadership Award.  The first award was presented during the ICF Technical Exchange Conference in Siena, Italy on November 11, 2001 with John’s family in attendance for the ceremony. 

The following is a list of the “John Cope Leadership Award” recipients:

Walter Frank (Nachtmann AG.) at Siena, Italy on November 11, 2001

Michael Hynes (National University of Ireland, Galway) at Waterford, Ireland on October 13, 2002

John Kennedy (Waterford Crystal) at Arques, France on October 12, 2003

Pietro Stanghellini (C.A.L.P., Spa) at Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic on October 10, 2004

Timothy Maher (Nachtmann USA, Inc.) at Telfs-Buchen, Austria on October 9, 2005

Miroslav Rada (Inst. Chemical Technology, Prague) at Weiden, Germany on Oct. 8, 2006

Philippe Durand (ARC International) at Siena, Italy on November 4, 2007 (posthumously)

Guy Tackels (Saint-Gobain) at Istanbul, Turkey on November 12, 2008

Gerald Mader (Riedel Group) at Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia on October 10, 2011

Peter Minchin (WWRD UK, LTD) at Arques, France on October 2, 2012

Denis Lalart (ARC International) at Kufstein, Austria on September 29, 2013
Richard Lehman (Rutgers University) at Kosta, Sweden on September 30, 2014

Gerold Sprachmann (D. Swarovski KG) at Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia on October 17, 2016

Melek Orhon - (Pasabache Cam, (Division of Sisecam)  Bad Häring, Tyrol on 

October  30,  2018

Paolo Barducci - (RCR Cristalleria Italiana S.p.A)   Bad Häring Tyrol  on

October 30, 2018