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2305 Monroe Avenue
Rochester, New York
Coleman Springer Obituary
Rochester: May 30, 2017, at the age of 66, after a long and brave battle with cancer. Cole is survived by his beloved sister, Stephanie and devoted brother-in-law James DeBottis; loving and dedicated cousins and friends. He is predeceased by parents, Frederick and Theresa Springer.
For 18 years, Cole treasured his career as a concierge at 1600 East Ave. Apartments, where the staff and residents became extended family. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Benincasa Hospice House for the truly loving care Cole received.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, June 24, 10 AM at St. John of Rochester Catholic Church, 8 Wickford Way, Fairport. Interment at Holy Sepulchre. Contributions may be made to Benincasa, 3880 Rush-Mendon Rd., Mendon, NY 14506 or Humane Society at Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Rd., Fairport, NY 14450. To share a memory of Coleman or send a condolence to the family visit www.anthonychapels.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Coleman Springer
Sponsored by Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels - Brighton/Rochester Chapel.
Mary Ryan
May 29, 2022
I was Cole´s friend in his NYC years and treasured our friendship. He was so smart and funny and we lost touch. Still think of him often. Hope his family is doing well.
Mary Ryan
June 8, 2020
I don't know if anyone will read this as it is years behind. I was thinking about Cole today. We were friends in NYC in the 80's and worked together in Nadler and Larimer advertising. My first job out of HS. He was a huge influence on me and turned me on to so many cool films. We went to galleries together, movies and saw lots of bands. It was a great time to be in NY. We stayed friends for years but when he moved back to Rochester we lost track of eachother. Seeing he is passed on makes me so sad and wish I had stayed in touch. Seeing this smiling picture of him makes me smile because he looks so happy - much happier than I think he was in NYC. God Bless him. He was a great guy and I will have my memories of those times. I remember him talking to me about Stephanie .. I hope you are all well.
Navin Rizvi
June 24, 2017
I have struggled to find the right words to properly express what Cole meant to me. I've been heartbroken after learning about his passing. To put it simply, Cole was one of the most loveable and interesting and funny persons I've ever met.
I moved to Rochester and the 1600 East apartments a little over a year and a half ago. Cole and I hit it off right away. We both had discriminating taste in music and movies and we loved talking about our favorite artists and filmmakers. We shared a love of the Beatles, Todd Rundgren and Elvis Costello . He educated me about the Eastman Theatre film archives etc.
I dearly miss having conversations about his favorite LPs and his adventures in NYC (during the citie's iconic period of the 70's) . I lived in NYC during the 90s so we would compare notes about our favorite neighborhoods etc.
I remember Cole recounting stories of meeting people in NY such as David Bowie in an elevator in Manhattan which was both fascinating and hilarious.
Cole had such a warm and dry sense of humor . I half expect to run into him downstairs still so we can chat again .
He touched everyone in the building and left such a indelible mark. He appreciated small things. If we ever baked anything, we would always set aside some muffins or cookies for him.
He battled his illness so hard . It's comforting to know he is finally resting in peace. We love you Cole. We miss you everyday.
Alicia Springer
June 7, 2017
Cole was as devoted to music, books, and movies as any medieval scholar was devoted to ancient texts. But not just any music, books, and moviesthe B movies and noir classics, the punk and various other sorts of anything-but-mainstream music, a wide-ranging but very personal and sometimes arcane love of art in many forms. My husband Chris remembers a great and fun fan-fest with Cole analyzing Captain Beefheart (for those who know who that is). Cole was our cousin; our fathers Fred and John were brothers. We never saw him much apart from his NYC years, and of course, now I regret letting time slip away without keeping in touch with such a unique and special person. I wish I had known him better.
Kathy Shady
June 7, 2017
Stephanie, I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. I know how close you always were back in our days at Lourdes & I'm sure that bond only got stronger. Keep remembering all those happy memories of years past.
John Julie Carrie Joe and Bo Donohue
June 6, 2017
You will always be Coley and Steffie to us. Many happy memories of Willowdale Drive. Our prayers and sincerest sympathy to you and your husband on the loss of your brother. Love from all the Donohues
Lollypop Farm
June 6, 2017
Our thoughts are with Cole's family and friends at this sad time.
Mark James Meli
June 4, 2017
OUCH!! This hurts bad! Cole was my buddy during my time at The Record Archive in Rochester NY. After I left the store, we stayed in touch, and then I got married and maybe only saw him once after that over at the Village Gate plaza. He opened my eyes to a lot of different music, or enlightened me on music that I was already a fan of. The greatest thing about him was when we'd get each other laughing like a couple of school kids. He had that ironic sense of humor, and "unscripted," he could be one of the funniest guys in the world. He had his down side too, but he knew that I knew about such matters (having many "tortured artist" friends in my life) and I would always tried to make him see the good side of something else in his life. One afternoon he said; "Man, I really hate music. I get that way sometimes when I work too close with something, I just want nothing to do with it." I looked at him and said; "Just be glad you don't work in the food industry then." He was pretty humble too, and hardly pointed out to me that he wrote for "Trouser Press" back in the day. I think he only mentioned it once. I feel incredibly bad that I didn't track him down to chat when I had the time of late. I will miss him beyond words. I'll think of him every time I play the FRIENDS album by the Beach Boys.
Rev Marilyn Cunningham
June 4, 2017
My grandchildren and I will miss Cole tremendously. They called him "Mr. Cole". He was always such a blessing to our family. I will never forget his friendliness and caring. It was fun sharing his film noir magazines where I could order old movies from. We have lived at 1600 for over 14 years and we considered him family. God bless you and thank you for sharing such a "gentle spirit" with us.
J.D. King
June 4, 2017
Cole's been a friend of mine since the early-1980s when we were both in NYC. We stayed in touch over the decades. A great guy, a funny guy. He'll be missed. I've sent a link to a few of his old pals. My condolences to Stephanie and James. I know he loved you.
Mary Ann Satter
June 4, 2017
Cole and I were classmates at Our Lady of Lourdes School, but I came to know him best when he worked as concierge at 1600 East Avenue, where my mother Genevieve Satter lived for many years. Cole was always so kind and thoughtful to Mom, and she thought the world of him.
Cole and I talked often about books and film; he had an amazing memory for titles and authors and plot details. (I wanted him to go on Jeopardy!) His insights into both film and literature and his ability to connect those to history and our experiences as humans genuinely enriched my appreciation and enjoyment of the many works we loved in common. I hope the libraries and screening rooms of heaven give Cole prime seats. I'm sure that my mother was at the Pearly Gates to greet Cole with a brownie and cookies on a paper plate, the way she used to bring them to him at his desk at 1600. Thanks for the memories, Cole!
Andy Battaglia
June 3, 2017
Cole was a long time customer at my comic book store and we had many talks over the years. I am really going to miss his tales of the years he lived in NYC. I always envied that he had the chance to do that. Our Seinfeld references were endless. Gonna miss him and his sense of humor.
Michael Torno
June 3, 2017
Rest well, Cole.
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