9. William Joseph3 Coogan (Patrick Joseph2, Patrick Joseph1) was born Brooklyn, Kings, NY 07 NOV 1892. William died 08 JUL 1923 in Manhattan, New York, NY, at 30 years of age. His body was interred 16 JUL 1923 in Woodside, Queens, NY, [Old] Calvary Cemetery.
He married Margaret Loretta Cecilia Catterson in New York, New York, NY, 31 DEC 1919. The couple was married at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. The marriage notice reported that the couple spent their honeymoon "in the South."
Retta was born Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1886. Retta was the daughter of Patrick Catterson and Bridget spouse. Retta died 24 SEP 1961 Brooklyn, Kings, NY, at 75 years of age. Her body was interred 28 SEP 1961 in Woodside, Queens, NY, [Old] Calvary Cemetery.
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1892-1895, 54 Bleeker Street. *
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1895-1897, 776 Evergreen Avenue. *
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1897-1898, 65 Himrod Street. *
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1898-1903, 225 Pulaski Street. He appears in the 1900 US Census.
He resided Kingston, Ulster, NY 1903-1908, Broadway Street. He appears in the 1905 New York State Census. He returned to Kingston with his mother to live with his grandparents after his father died.
He was a student Kingston, Ulster, NY. School: Kingston Academy. His marriage notice stated his place of education.
He was a student Kingston, Ulster, NY, 1904-1908. School: Kingston High School. The Directory of Deceased American Physicians stated his place of education.
He was a student in Worcester, Worcester, MA, 1908-1912. School: Holy Cross College. The Directory of Deceased American Physicians and William's obituary stated his place of education.
He was a student Bronx, Bronx, NY, 1912-1916. School: Fordham University. The Directory of Deceased American Physicians and William's obituary stated attended the Fordham School of Medicine. His marriage notice called this school "Fordham Medical College." William's grandson, Robert Coogan JR, remembered that Fordham used to have a medical school and hospital (which closed around 1970).
He resided Kingston, Ulster, NY JUN 1916 - 28 SEP 1916. The Directory of Deceased American Physicians stated his residence.
William's occupation: Reporter Kingston, Ulster, NY. The obituary of his son, William Joseph Coogan JR, stated that William worked as a reporter for the Kingston Daily Freeman "during his medical school days". His marriage notice also stated that for "several years before studying medicine, he was a member of the reporting staff of The Freeman. William's grandson, Robert Coogan JR, remembered stories passed down in the family about this job: "When I was a child, Aunt Sadie [Catterson] told me that Dr. Coogan had once been a reporter in Kingston, his home town, and was covering some street accident for the paper. He was so impressed by the work of the ambulance team that he decided then and there to be a doctor."
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 28 SEP 1916-1918. The Directory of Deceased American Physicians stated his residence.
William served in the military 1918-1919. He served in the US Army as a commissioned officer. He was a veteran of World War I. He was a Captain in the Medical Corps of the American Expeditionary Force in France, serving with the 107th Infantry (formerly the Seventh Regiment of New York City). His grandchildren, Colleen Collins and Robert Coogan JR, said that William was gassed during the war. His marriage notice contained a note about this event: "He was gassed during the operations of the Twenty Seventh Division, to which his regiment was attached, and was cited for conspicuous bravery in action." Overall, William was twice cited for bravery. His obituary stated that "his citations were awarded for maintaining first aid stations in the front battle lines."
One of his bravery citations was awarded for valor during the battle of the Hindenberg Line, France: "CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. COOGAN, M.C. - For exceptional courage and devotion to duty in maintaining a First Aid Station at the extreme front under very heavy fire for more than twenty hours, caring for and supervising the evacuation of wounded."
William's occupation: Doctor Brooklyn, Kings, NY, 1919-1923. His death certificate stated his occupation. His marriage notice stated that he had a private practice in addition to being a visiting surgeon of the Coney Island Hospital." William's obituary stated that "he was a well known surgeon on the staff at St. Mary's Hospital and the Coney Island Hospital." The Directory of Deceased American Physicians also reported that his type of practice was Allopath and that he was licensed in 1916 (NY).
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1919-1920, 247 Greene Avenue. His marriage announcement (1919) reported his residence. He appears in the 1920 US Census.
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1920-1923, 852 Lincoln Place. His death certificate and obituary stated his residence.
His obituary reported: "He died in St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Manhattan, on Sunday after an operation." The Directory of Deceased American Physicians stated that he died from complications during surgery for a duodenal ulcer (and from pneumonia). William's grandson, Robert F. Coogan JR, said that William's operation was required because he had been gassed during World War I. "He was so inconvenienced by ulcers that he opted for a risky surgery. His wife was pregnant at the time with their third child. Knowing that the surgery was risky, William asked his wife if she were pregnant, as he suspected, and would not have had the surgery if she were. She [Retta], knowing how much he was suffering, and that this was his only possibility for relief, lied and told him that she was not pregnant. So he went into surgery and never came out."
William Joseph Coogan and Margaret Loretta Cecilia Catterson had the following children:
He was a student Brooklyn, Kings, NY, 1934-1938. School: Bishop Loughlin Memorial High. *
He resided Brooklyn, Kings, NY 1938, 603 Putnam Avenue. His obituary stated his residence.
He was a student South Bend, Saint Joseph, IN, SEP 1938-NOV 1938. School: University of Notre Dame. He attended the school for a few months before his death.
Colleen Collins said that Bill died of and eye infection or "stye". His obituary stated that he contracted blood poisoning and died after only three days of illness.
He was a student Brooklyn, Kings, NY, 1937-1941. School: Bishop Loughlin Memorial High. *
John's occupation: Representative Brooklyn, Kings, NY, 1945-1950. He worked for the J. P. Lippincott Company (publishers). His obituary stated his residence.
John served in the military 1945. He served in the US Army as a non-commissioned officer (NCO). He was a veteran of World War II. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. He flew B-29s (in the US Army Air Corps) in India.
He was a student Bronx, Bronx, NY, 1947. School: Fordham University. He graduated in 1947.
He resided in Queens, Queens, NY. *
He resided in Levittown, Nassau, NY 1950, 46 Rainbow Lane. His obituary stated his residence.
John served in the military OCT 1950-OCT 1951. He served in the US Army as a commissioned officer. He was a veteran of the Korean War. His obituary stated that he was recalled to active duty as a Second Lieutenant. He was promoted (in the field) to the rank of First Lieutenant in JUN 1950. He was mortally wounded in action on 03 OCT 1951 while fighting the enemy and died three days later. He received the Purple Heart posthumously.
Return to Table of Contents or Index