Brian Douglas-Coad-Obituary

Photo courtesy of Clavin Funeral Home - Brooklyn

Brian Douglas Coad

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I met Brian many years ago, when I had the immense luck to be chosen to join the Lloyd MacMahon family. Although it was after the judge had passed away, Brian and the other fellows stories made me feel as if I had met him in person. Brian spoke so fondly of his wife and sons! It was clear he loved immensely, and was loved by his family. I am sending you all my deepest condolences, and remembering your family in my prayers.

Brian's father and mine were brothers. As children, we shared many happy memories of summertime barbeques and holidays with all of the cousins. I'm grateful that Brian and Kathy made a point to visit when they came to St. Louis. He was a good man and our family will miss him. Rest in peace, Brian.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine on him.

Brian and I were colleagues in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We’d sometimes walk together over the Brooklyn Bridge and share war stories, perspectives, strategies, and observations about life more generally. Brian was insightful, funny, caring and thoughtful. I am very sorry to learn of his passing. RIP, Brian. I know that your friends and loved ones will have many fond memories.

Brian and I both clerked for Judge MacMahon (several years apart) and overlapped briefly in the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was a brilliant and accomplished attorney who tried more than 25 jury trials and argued 26 appeals. He held supervisory positions in the Office and was the recipient of several awards. More importantly, he was a man of integrity who had a great sense of humor, loved his family and was well respected by his peers. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Learning of Brian's untimely death was sad news indeed. I clerked for Judge MacMahon a few years after Brian and I too became a federal prosecutor in the SDNY. Brian welcomed me with open arms and often gave hilarious impressions of Judge MacMahon when we became friends. He was well liked in the office and taught me valuable lessons - one of the most important was that our mission was not always about winning or losing a case, but to see that justice was served in a fair and reasonable way....

I knew Brian, but not well because I live in Chicago, not New York. He and I both clerked for Judge MacMahon in the early '80s. Many of the judge's clerks went on to build distinguished careers as lawyers, judges and other public officials. Brian was such a clerk. Because he clerked for Judge MacMahon, he has been -- and always will be -- a member of the MacMahon Association. Because of my distance from New York, I will not be able to attend the funeral. May God bless his soul and his...

Having worked with Brian all the years he was a Deputy US Attorney, we can say absolutely Brian was a terrific human and a great lawyer. Always kind, attentive, helpful, Brian had a great sense of humor and a real disregard for nonsense. One of the many cases we had with Brian involved defendants from Afghanistan with no background in the US. Ignoring his office’s policy, Brian arranged for us to meet with his CI on which the reports were based. What a guy. Defense couldn’t believe the...

I met Brian in the U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan in 1983, when he was selected by U.S. District Judge Lloyd MacMahon to serve as his law clerk for a year. I'd been given the same privilege many years earlier. Brian went on to work for years as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. He was a man of great integrity, and blessed with a magnificent speaking voice. Judge MacMahon died in 1989, but his former law clerks have continued to meet at an annual dinner. At our...

Obituary

Brian Douglas's Obituary

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Brian Douglas Coad at the age of 67.Brian was born in St. Louis, Missouri to William and Dorothy Coad. A graduate of St. Louis University High School, he received his bachelor degree from the College of William and Mary...

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