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14 November 2009

Obituary of W. Gordon Coogan

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(extracted from "New York Times", 02 DEC 1969, PAGE 55):

W. GORDON COOGAN IS DEAD AT 81; 

EARLY AIDE OF FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
W. Gordon Coogan, a former vice chairman of the National Democratic
Finance Committee and a onetime part owner of the Polo Grounds, died
Sunday in Overlook Hospital, Summit, N.J.  He was 81 years old and
lived on Greenwood Avenue, Madison, N.J.

Mr. Coogan was long active in Democratic party affairs.  He was a 
close friend of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom he urged to run 
for Governor of New York in 1928.

He played an active role in the Roosevelt campaign for the Presidency
as one of the leaders in the fund-raising drive conducted throughout
the country.  After the Roosevelt victory, he was considered for 
Governor of Puerto Rico, but was unable to accept the post.

FATHER A BOROUGH PRESIDENT:
Mr. Coogan was born in New York, a son of the late James J. and 
Harriet Gardiner Coogan.  His father ran for Mayor, and was the 
first Borough President of Manhattan after the consolidation of the 
five boroughs into the City of New York in 1898.

His mother was a descendant of the Gardiners of Gardiner's Island.

The Coogan family bought much real estate in the city before 1900,
including the Polo Grounds, long the home of the New York Giants
baseball team.  The Polo Grounds and the adjoining Manhattan Field
were recently taken by the city in condemnation proceedings for a 
housing project.

Much of the land in the vicinity of the Polo Grounds, from Coogan's
Bluff to the Harlem River, was owned by the Coogans, who gave 
portions to the city, including the Speedway, a favorite place for 
trotting races at the turn of the century, which is now part of the 
Harlem River Drive.

Mr. Coogan spent his early years in New York and Newport, R.I., where 
his family maintained a summer home.  He was a member of the Harvard
class of 1911.

He was very much interested in thoroughbred racing as a member of the 
Turf and Field Club, Monmouth Racing Association and the United Hunts
Racing Association.  He was also a member of the Whist Club and Saint
Nicholas Club of New York.

Surviving Mr. Coogan are his widow, the former Dorothea Potter, who
was a granddaughter of Theodore A. Havemeyer, the corporation 
executive; 5 sons, Theodore H., Robert Henry Lynch, Richard Charles
Potter, Jay Gardiner and David Gordon Coogan; 4 daughters, Emily
Marie, Mrs. Ben Wainwright Jesser, Mrs. Charles M. Peabody and Mrs.
Frederick O. Lindsley; a brother, Jay; a sister, Jessie; 24 
grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A sixth son, W. Gordon Coogan Jr., an officer with the Second 
Armored Division in World War II, died in 1953 as a result of wounds 
suffered in the war.

A funeral service will be held at 10 A.M. Thursday in the Lady 
Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

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(extracted from "Holland Evening Sentinel" [MI], 02 DEC 1969):

NEW YORK: ...Services will be held Thursday for W. Gordon Coogan, a
Democratic party advisor who influenced Franklin D. Roosevelt...
...governor of New York four years before he became president...
Coogan, 81, died Sunday at a...

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(extracted from "Wilton Bulletin" [CT], 03 DEC 1969, PAGE 2):

W. GORDON COOGAN,
RESIDENT'S FATHER,
DIES IN 82ND YEAR

W. Gordon Coogan, a former vice chairman of the National Democratic
Finance Committee, died on Sunday, Nov. 30, in Overlook Hospital in
Summitt, N.J.  He was 81.

He is survived by his wife, the former Dorothea Potter, granddaughter
of the late Theodore A. Havemeyer of New York, and five sons,
Theodore Havemeyer of Whipstick, Ridgefield, Robert Henry Lynch of
Youngstown, Ohio, Richard Charles Potter of Studio City, Cal., Jay
Gardiner of Long Beach, Cal., and David Gordon Coogan of Mountain
Lakes, N.J.  (Another son, Lt. W. Gordon Coogan, Jr., died in World
War II.); four daughters, Mrs. Charles M. Peabody of Grumman Hill,
Wilton, Mrs. Benn Wainwright Jesser of Hohokus, N.J., Miss Emilie
Marie Coogan of Madison, N.J., and Mrs. Frederick O. Lindsley of 
New York City; a brother, Jay; a sister, Jessie; 24 grandchildren,
and 11 great-grandchildren.

Born in New York, he was the son of James J. Coogan, first Borough
President of New York and owner of much land in the city, including
Coogan's Bluff.  His mother, Harriet Gardiner Coogan, was a 
descendant of the Gardiners of Gardiner's Island.

A graduate of Harvard, class of 1911, he was active in Democratic
party affairs, and a close friend of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
He was a member of the Turf and Field Club, Monmouth Racing 
Association, and United Hunts Association among other clubs.

Services took place this morning at Our Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's
Cathedral.

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