John J Cotter Sr.

COTTER - John J. Sr.Of Buffalo, NY. Suddenly, December11, 2009, beloved husband of 61years to Mary Jane (Conlon) Cotter;dearest and loving father of Mary Jane(Gerard) Ginnane, late John J. (Karen)Cotter, Jr., and Eileen (Daniel) Bowman;devoted, loving, and biggest fanof grandchildren Cara, Johnny, andMaura Cotter, and Bridget and ColleenBowman; loving son of the late Agnes(Gleason) Cotter and the late EdwardM. Cotter, namesake of the Buffalo Fireboat;dear brother of the late EdwardM. Jr. (late Mary Lou), late Thomas R.(Rosemary), Richard F. (Kathleen) Cotter,the late Agnes McKenzie, late Rita(late Frank) Hoefner, and Helen (lateJack) Curry; cherished brother-in-law ofJean (late Mike) Conlon, late John andPeg Conlon; also survived by many lovingnieces and nephews, including DesmondKimmet of Glasgow, Scotland.The family will be present to receivefriends on Tuesday from 3-7 PM atthe O'CONNELL-MURPHY FUNERALHOME, 2286 South Park Ave. whereprayer services will be held Wednesday at8:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of ChristianBurial at 14 Holy Helpers Church,1345 Indian Church Road at cornerof Union Road, West Seneca at 9:00a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations toThe Father Baker Guild, to promote thecause of Fr. Nelson Baker's canonizationgratefully appreciated. IntermentHoly Cross Cemetery. Mr. Cotter wasa graduate of Canisius High Schooland Canisius College. He was a retiredAppellate Conferee of the Internal RevenueService. John was also a retiredCaptain from the Army Reserve. DuringWorld War II, Mr. Cotter served in theU.S. Army Air Corp as a Navigator on aB-26 in the European Theater and washonored with a Purple Heart. In Juneof 1945, Mr. Cotter received the DistinguishedFlying Cross from the UnitedStates Air Force. John is a member ofthe Ancient Order of Hibernians andtreasured his Irish heritage. He wasa wonderful ceili dancer with his wife,Mary Jane. He was a true fan of theBuffalo Bills, Sabres, and Notre Damef