After a brave battle with pancreatic cancer, Paul Coteus passed away peacefully on January 24, 2026, at home with his family by his side.
Paul was born on April 29, 1953, in Niles, Illinois to Robert Coteus and Loraine Coteus nee Schwarz—the first of five children.
After receiving his B.S. from Bradley University, he was accepted into Columbia University's graduate studies program for physics. He arrived in New York City alone with two cardboard boxes of belongings and a near empty wallet. When the admitting department could not find his assignment to a dormitory, they put a single bed in a small, dark utility room. Paul shrugged and unpacked. Seven years later, he earned a PhD in elementary particle physics.
Paul then spent eight years as a postdoctoral researcher and assistant professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he met his beloved wife, Carol. They married in 1986.
After Carol became pregnant in 1988, Paul accepted a position as a research staff member at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown, New York. They made their home and raised their son, Stephen, in Yorktown.
During Paul's 33 years at IBM, he obtained over 200 patents and authored or co-authored over 900 scholarly papers. He was chief engineer for the Blue Gene supercomputer, which at one time was the fastest computer in the world. Paul received numerous awards and distinctions, including being named an IEEE fellow and an IBM fellow, the institution's highest research honor.
You wouldn't hear him talk about any of that, though. Instead, you'd hear him talking excitedly about his son playing soccer—he never missed a game. Or you might hear the clanking of his trusty old blue wheelbarrow—the one he's kept in order for over 40 years—as he hauled dirt or rocks on the way to improve something.
Paul fixed things. Damn near everything. And not just in his own home for his own family, but for yours too. If you're reading this, there's a strong chance Paul has fixed something for you—a sagging screen door, a wobbly step, a flooding basement. He was selfless and tireless, helping every person he encountered without a second thought.
Carol and Paul moved to Sandwich, Massachusetts eight years ago to "retire." Though he enjoyed golf and pickleball with friends, and kayaking around Cape Cod's many ponds, he wasn't very good at putting his feet up. Paul dedicated the last eight years of his life to fighting climate change. He altered his own way of living to minimize his carbon footprint and collaborated with other scientists to develop carbon sequestration strategies. He also taught many courses related to climate change at the Academy for Lifelong Learning, where he eventually became President.
Paul is survived by his wife, Carol; his son, Stephen, and daughter-in-law, Catherine; and his two grandchildren, Mesa and Solenne, who brought him immense joy. He is also survived by his siblings Roberta Potempa, Rick Coteus, and Jerry Coteus, and his siblings-in-law Gene Potempa and Dave Waltenburg, along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister Maureen Waltenburg and his sister-in-law Lucy Coteus.
Paul will be remembered for his brilliant mind and professional achievements, but more importantly for his devotion to his family and dear friends, passion for learning and teaching, and unrelenting endeavor to make the world a better place.
There will be a Celebration of Life Ceremony at the Unitarian Church in Barnstable, Massachusetts on Saturday February 21st at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or donate to one of the following organizations in Paul's honor:
350.org (350.org/donate)
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org/donate)
Paul was born on April 29, 1953, in Niles, Illinois to Robert Coteus and Loraine Coteus nee Schwarz—the first of five children.
After receiving his B.S. from Bradley University, he was accepted into Columbia University's graduate studies program for physics. He arrived in New York City alone with two cardboard boxes of belongings and a near empty wallet. When the admitting department could not find his assignment to a dormitory, they put a single bed in a small, dark utility room. Paul shrugged and unpacked. Seven years later, he earned a PhD in elementary particle physics.
Paul then spent eight years as a postdoctoral researcher and assistant professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he met his beloved wife, Carol. They married in 1986.
After Carol became pregnant in 1988, Paul accepted a position as a research staff member at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown, New York. They made their home and raised their son, Stephen, in Yorktown.
During Paul's 33 years at IBM, he obtained over 200 patents and authored or co-authored over 900 scholarly papers. He was chief engineer for the Blue Gene supercomputer, which at one time was the fastest computer in the world. Paul received numerous awards and distinctions, including being named an IEEE fellow and an IBM fellow, the institution's highest research honor.
You wouldn't hear him talk about any of that, though. Instead, you'd hear him talking excitedly about his son playing soccer—he never missed a game. Or you might hear the clanking of his trusty old blue wheelbarrow—the one he's kept in order for over 40 years—as he hauled dirt or rocks on the way to improve something.
Paul fixed things. Damn near everything. And not just in his own home for his own family, but for yours too. If you're reading this, there's a strong chance Paul has fixed something for you—a sagging screen door, a wobbly step, a flooding basement. He was selfless and tireless, helping every person he encountered without a second thought.
Carol and Paul moved to Sandwich, Massachusetts eight years ago to "retire." Though he enjoyed golf and pickleball with friends, and kayaking around Cape Cod's many ponds, he wasn't very good at putting his feet up. Paul dedicated the last eight years of his life to fighting climate change. He altered his own way of living to minimize his carbon footprint and collaborated with other scientists to develop carbon sequestration strategies. He also taught many courses related to climate change at the Academy for Lifelong Learning, where he eventually became President.
Paul is survived by his wife, Carol; his son, Stephen, and daughter-in-law, Catherine; and his two grandchildren, Mesa and Solenne, who brought him immense joy. He is also survived by his siblings Roberta Potempa, Rick Coteus, and Jerry Coteus, and his siblings-in-law Gene Potempa and Dave Waltenburg, along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister Maureen Waltenburg and his sister-in-law Lucy Coteus.
Paul will be remembered for his brilliant mind and professional achievements, but more importantly for his devotion to his family and dear friends, passion for learning and teaching, and unrelenting endeavor to make the world a better place.
There will be a Celebration of Life Ceremony at the Unitarian Church in Barnstable, Massachusetts on Saturday February 21st at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or donate to one of the following organizations in Paul's honor:
350.org (350.org/donate)
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org/donate)
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul William Coteus, please visit our flower store.
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