Louis W. Coyne

Louis W. Coyne Passed away peacefully from pancreatic cancer on March 17, 2006 at home in San Francisco. Family, friends and caretakers were at his bedside. Born at French Hospital in SF on May 4, 1937, he grew up in SF but spent many of his summers at his family's Foppiano Vineyard in Healdsburg. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School, obtained his law degree from the Golden Gate University, a business degree from Santa Clara University, and his MBA from UCLA. His first love was the world of finance and he went to work for Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) in the early 1960's. He later started his own mortgage companies, Coyne Mortgage and Guardian Mortgage. At the same time, he had the "Tippy Taco" franchise in Washington, DC. In the 1990's, after leaving the mortgage world and moving back to SF, he started Nordan Inc., a financial consulting company. While traveling across the States and doing contract work for the Resolution Trust Corporation he met Michael and Charles King who were in the process of starting up Kings' Caribbean Coffee in St. Croix, the Virgin Islands. He invested in Kings' in 1997 and took up residence in St. Croix as chief operating officer in 2000. Although residing in St. Croix until shortly before his passing and having lived in many different cities, SF was always home. An outdoorsman, he enjoyed backpacking, skiing and traveling to faraway lands. He was also a passionate reader, who devoured over 100 books a year. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dan and Norma "Foppiano" Coyne; and his wife Tina Walls Coyne. He is survived by his uncle Louis J. Foppiano; and many nieces, nephews and cousins of both the Foppiano and Canata families. He will also be remembered by hundreds of friends he knew throughout the mainland United States, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Croix, USVI. A Mass of the Christian burial will be celebrated at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 100 Diamond St, SF at 10:30 am on Friday, March 24, 2006. Afterwards a Memorial Service will be held at the Neptune Society Columbarium at 1 Loraine Court, SF. In lieu of Flowers please feel free to make a donation to the American Cancer Society or to Santa Clara University.