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07 June 2014

Obituary of Thomas John Coogan II

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(extracted from "Daily Hampshire Gazette" [MA], 21 MAY 2014):

THOMAS J. COOGAN JR. (1921 - 2014)

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FLORENCE – Thomas J. Coogan, Jr., 93, of Florence, husband of the 
late Felixa (Sieruta) Coogan, died Monday, May 19, 2014, at home 
surrounded by his loving family.

He was born April 14, 1921, in Haydenville, to the late Thomas J. 
and Mary (Welch) Coogan, Sr. He was educated in the Haydenville 
Grammar School and graduated from the former Williamsburg High 
School and Northampton Commercial College.

He was employed at the Watertown Arsenal, later transferring to the 
retirement division of the Civil Service Commission in Washington, 
D.C., and then to the war department where he was among the first 
employees in the new Pentagon building.

He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps July 8, 1942, in 
Washington, D.C. He completed basic training at Paris Island, South 
Carolina, and transferred to the Marine Barracks at Camp Lejeune, 
North Carolina, and assigned 2nd Separate Battalion (re-enforced) 
24th Marines. The unit was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, 
and assigned to the new 4th Marine Division activated Nov. 1, 1942. 
He remained with the 4th division for amphibious operations on Roi-
Namun, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima, to its deactivation Nov. 28, 
1945, in San Francisco, and was assigned to the Marine Reserves in 
Boston. He was again re-called to active duty during the Korean 
Conflict and served at camp headquarters, Camp Lejeune, North 
Carolina.

He was employed in the fiscal division of the Northampton Veterans 
Affairs Hospital from October 1946 to April 1976 when he retired.

He was a communicate of the former Annunciation Church in Florence, 
and was an alter server and Minister of the Word. Tom was a life 
member of the Amherst American Legion Post #148, where he was 
finance officer for over 25 years. He was also on the finance 
committee, hospital chairman, and assistant chaplain of Franklin–
Hampshire District 2, American Legion. He was also a life member 
of Michael Curtin Post #8006, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Florence, 
Connecticut Constitution Chapter 35 of the 4th Marine Division, and 
the Fighting Fourth Marine Division Association of World War II. 
Tom was a life member and past president of Chapter 484, National 
Association of Retired Federal Employees and a popular auctioneer 
at their annual Look Park picnics. He was a 3rd Degree member of 
Amherst Knights of Columbus Council #1619, and a member of 
Northampton St. Patrick's Association. 

He is survived by his loving son Thomas J. Coogan, III, and his 
loving wife Nancy (Horan) Coogan of Storrs, Connecticut; two grand-
children, Jillian (Farrelly) Morascini and her husband Anthony of 
Willington, Connecticut, and James Farrelly of Mansfield, 
Connecticut; a great-grandson Anthony John Morascini also of 
Willington, Connecticut. Surviving nieces and nephews include Leo 
Vance of Chicopee, Lynn (Caulfield) and husband William Lak of 
Ware, Joan (Caulfield) and husband Donald MacIver of South Hadley, 
Lawrence and his wife Ellen (Ames) Coogan of Lincoln, David and 
Nancy Sieruta of Green Cove Springs, Florida, William and Mary 
Sieruta and Robert Sieruta of Leverett. He also leaves his close 
friends Robert and Dianne Stackow of Westfield.

Besides his wife of 64 years, who passed away in 2011, he was also 
predeceased by his sister Mary Caulfield who died in 1987 and 
brothers Lawrence in 1963 and James in 2000. 

Calling hours will be Thursday, May 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the 
Drozdal Funeral Home, 120 Damon Road, Northampton. A Liturgy of 
Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, May 23, at Annunciation 
Chapel of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish located at 85 Beacon St., 
Florence, at 9 a.m., and 8 a.m. at the Drozdal Funeral Home. Burial 
with military honors will follow immediately at the Massachusetts 
Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam.

Memorials may be made to the VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson 
Hospital, P.O. Box 329, Northampton, MA 01060, or to St. Elizabeth 
Ann Seton Parish, 3 Elm St., Northampton, MA 01060.

To sign a Guest Book, express condolences, share memories and read 
other obituaries, go to www.gazettenet.com/obituaries. 

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