William John Coughlan

COUGHLAN, William John Of Natick, passed away Tuesday December 9, 2008 at Oak Knoll Healthcare Center in Framingham. He was the beloved husband of Marie Lorraine Coughlan. He was 77. Born in Arlington, March 21, 1931. He was the son of the late William and Mary Coughlan. He was a 1949 graduate of Ridge Technical High School in Cambridge and received a Bachelors of Science, Occupational Education at Fitchburg State College in 1972. A Masters Degree in Education, Occupational and Education Administration was achieved in 1975. William had an accomplished career that spanned over 47 years. His career began as an Apprentice to Journeyman Bookbinder at Standard Diary Printing Company in Cambridge. He was an Offset Printing Pressman/Foreman at Addison Wesley Publishing Co., Cambridge and Offset Printing Pressman at Middlesex Label Printing Co, Ashland. He was an Offset Printing Pressman at Washington Press, Worcester, and an Offset Printing Pressman and Foreman at Buchanan Printing Co, Medfield. He was also an Offset Newspaper Printing Pressman at the Belmont Herald News in Belmont. William began his Teaching career in Greenfield as a Manpower Development Training Program Instructor at the Greenfield Vocational School. The next teaching role was as the Industrial Arts Printing Instructor at West Junior High School in Arlington. William spent 30 years as the Offset Printing Instructor, Department Chairman at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton. He retired in June, 1996. Additional Graphic Communications Teaching experiences (Part-time) include Program Development and Instruction. These include; Blue Hills Regional Technical School Instructor of Adult Education, Postgraduate, and Apprenticeship Training. At The Technical Institute at Blue Hills he was the Instructor for the Introduction to the Printing Processes for Junior College Art Students. At Northeastern University (University College) William was the Adjunct Faculty Professor: Graphic Communications and Production Courses. William was also actively involved in the Special Education and Industry Training Programs (Program Development and Implementation). These included Work Training Program for AFDC Welfare Recipients, Bay State Skills Corp., Job Training Partnership Programs, Printing Institute of New England Technology Programs, and the New England Book Components Printing Co. Introduction to Printing Processes. William accomplished many Graphic Arts Education and Professional Improvement Assignments. These included; Professional Improvement Coordinator, Massachusetts Division of Occupational Education, the Lead Examiner for Qualification Testing of Printing Teacher Candidates, Program Coordinator for Electronic Publishing Summer Teacher Institute, Curriculum Team Member for Curriculum Development for Instructing the Handicapped at Boston University. William was a member of many Professional Organizations. These include the Massachusetts Teachers Association, National Education Association, the Massachusetts Vocational Association, National Vocational Association, the International Graphic Arts Education Association, the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation - Education Member, and the National Association of Printers and Lithographers- Education Member. William was the Vice President, Member of the Board of Directors for the In-Plant Printing Management Association. He was a three year member of the Board of Directors, Member of the Education Committee, and Advisor and Chairman of the Junior Craftsman Committee for the Boston Club of Printing House Craftsmen. Recognition for a successful career was acknowledged by the following awards; Outstanding Vocational Teacher Award (1991 National First Runner-up), Award for Outstanding Achievement in Vocational Technical Education (1986, 1991), National Finalists in Secretary of Education's Award for Outstanding Vocational Technical Education Program (1985), the James Brahney Award for Promotion of Graphic Arts Profession, and the Annual Teachers Service Award from the Norfolk County Teachers Association. In addition to his wife of 55 years, Marie, he is survived by 4 children, Kathy Croft and her husband Leo, of Natick, James and his wife, Dianne Coughlan of Woodstock, GA, Maureen O'Connell and her husband Shawn of Cumberland, RI, and Laura Woodring and her husband Don of Medway. William was the "Loving Papa", of 10 Grandchildren; Jason and Meghan Croft, Ryan, Courtney and Shane Coughlan, Kaitlin and Kelly O'Connell, and William, Brendan and Conor Woodring. He also leaves behind his cousin, Reverend Geoffrey Deeker. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral Mass Saturday, December 13th, at the Saint Patrick Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick at 10:00 AM. Burial services will follow at the Saint Patrick Cemetery in Natick. Visiting Hours will be held Friday, December 12th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home (www.everettfuneral.com), 4 Park Street, at Natick Common, Natick. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Natick Visiting Nurses Association, 209 West Central Street, Natick, MA 01760