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Thomas E. COUGHLIN Sr.
Beloved husband of the late Margaret F. (Regan) Coughlin, devoted father of six children; Kathleen Miller and her husband, Al of Yarkley, PA, Nancy Coughlin Olivieri and her husband, Angelo of E. Stroudsburg, PA, James Coughlin and his wife, Olivia of Elka Park, NY, Margaret E. Coughlin of Savannah, GA, John P. Coughlin and his wife, Francesca of Rome, Italy and Thomas E. Coughlin, Jr. and his wife, Holly of Hingham, MA.His loving presence will be sorely missed by his twelve grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two grand-dogs and two grand-cats.Mr. Coughlin proudly served with the Fourth Marine Division during World War II. Tom participated in the assaults on Saipan, Tinian and Kwajalein in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Purple Heart with Star for wounds received in battle. Other decorations included the Combat Action Ribbon, a Presidential Unit Citation with Star and three campaign medals. Mr. Coughlin joined the Port of New York Authority Police after the war and served 26 years with the force, rising to the rank of detective. His assignments included the Lincoln Tunnel, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, JFK Airport, Newark Airport and Port Newark. He was awarded the Police Meritorious Medal for entering a burning apartment building at night and rousing twenty families, enabling them to escape the fire. During his career, he was a member of the Lincoln Tunnel softball team and took pleasure in the competition as well as in the camaraderie of his teammates. He remained a member of the PBA for many years.Upon retiring from the Port Authority, Mr. Coughlin again found himself in uniform, this time in the service of the United States Postal Service. He spent seventeen years in the Fair Lawn post office, finally retiring in 1988. He spent retirement with his wife, Marge, traveling abroad as well as within the United States. He took special joy in visiting with his children and grandchildren. Tom had the strength and good humor to poke fun at himself and took great pleasure at his ability to make others laugh.Mr. Coughlin was a communicant at St. Anne's Church in Fair Lawn since 1955. He was a member of the Elmwood Park Senior Friendship Club, the Elmwood Park Senior Social Club, the Elmwood Park Homeowners Association, AARP Chapter 3864, the Emerald Society, VFW Post 5084 and the Fourth Marine Division Association. And so much more. Funeral Monday 9 AM from the Patrick J. Conte Funeral Home, Inc., 274 Market St., Elmwood Park. Funeral Mass 10 AM at St. Anne's R.C. Church, Fair Lawn. Cremation Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Paterson. Visiting Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 would be greatly appreciated. www.patrickjconte.com Published in The Record and Herald News on December 11, 2009 Copyright © 2009 The Record |
COUGHLIN Thomas E.,
Sr., 88, of Elmwood Park passed away peacefully at
home surrounded by his family, Tuesday, December 8,
2009. Born and raised in New York City, the son of
Thomas J. and Mary (Egan) Coughlin, he spent his youth
playing baseball as well as roller hockey in the era of
steel skates.