Thomas J. Coogan Jr.

1921 - 2014

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 grandchildren, 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.

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