Patricia B. Cote

Patricia B. Cote ASHLAND Dr. Patricia B. (Vicinus) Cote Ed.D., 82, of Ashland and formerly of Sherborn, a retired history teacher with the Natick School System, died unexpectedly early Friday morning, July 10, 2008, at the MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. She was the beloved wife of Frank R. Cote, who died in 1984. Born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., a daughter of the late William and Helen Gertrude (Brown) Vicinus, she had been a resident of Sherborn for 20 years, and of Ashland for the past 10 years. A graduate of Bay City Central High School in Michigan, Class of 1943, and John Hopkins School of Nursing, 1946, she later attended Harvard Universitys Division of Continuing Education, earning a bachelor's degree in 1962 and a master's degree in 1963. In 1976, she received a doctorate in education from Harvard. During her career as a nurse, she had worked at John Hopkins Hospital, Childrens Hospital in Boston and the former Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. Patricia later entered the field of education and, prior to her retirement, taught history, with a specialty in advanced placement in European history to hundreds of students at Natick's Middle School and High School for 29 years. She was a trustee of Thousand Pines Condominium Complex in Ashland, where she headed the Landscaping Committee and was voted outstanding condo owner of New England in 2005. For many years Patricia graded the history portion of the Princeton Advanced Placement Exam, and served as a supervisor of teacher training for Framingham State College. She also enjoyed volunteering her time at the Bethany Healthcare Center in Framingham. Known for her love of travel, she had visited every continent in the world and had a special fondness for Germany. Patricia is survived by her dear friend and companion of 21 years, Joan Karcher of Ashland; three daughters, Catherine Cote of Watertown, Susan Cote of New Mexico and Claire Drinan of Belmont; also survived by her sisters, Carolyn Miller of Santa Cruz, Calif., Martha Vicinus of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of William Vicinus of Ashland, who died in 2003. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service in celebration of her life at St. Dunstans Episcopal Church, 18 Springdale Ave., Dover, on Saturday, July 19, at 10 a.m. Burial will take place at a later date in Berlin, Vt. Visiting hours in the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home (www.everettfuneral.com) 4 Park St., at Natick Common, are Tuesday, July 15, from 3 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her name to Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701-2699.