John Patterson Coogan

COOGAN, John Patterson John Patterson Coogan, of Gastonia, passed away in the early hours of January 4, 2013 four days after his 79th birthday. He died at Gaston Memorial Hospital of a heart attack after surgery. He was born and grew up in Queens, NY the son of Florence and Eddie Coogan. Known as 'Jack' to many, he attended La Salle Academy in New York, and Manhattan College in Riverdale NY, where he earned a BS degree in Civil Engineering. He worked for 28 years at the American Bridge Division of United States Steel in Pittsburgh, PA, and was involved in the fabrication and construction of numerous large scale buildings and bridges around the country, retiring from there in 1986. He finished his engineering career with Owen Steel in Gastonia, NC and Greenville, SC. In addition to his family, Jack's Roman Catholic faith was always a big part of his life and he was an active member of St. Victor's Parish in Bairdford PA where he served as a sixth grade CCD teacher, the Nocturnal Adoration Society at St. Michael's Parish in Gastonia and at the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Belmont Abbey, where he was a good friend to many. Jack also enjoyed watching baseball, bike riding and was a railroad buff his entire life. Jack is predeceased by his wife Bernice Faust Coogan and is survived by his four children, Chris Coogan of Albuquerque NM, Tim Coogan of Roanoke VA, Maureen Belich of Salisbury MD, and Roseann Harrill of Mooresville NC. Their spouses are Jodi, Pam, Jeffrey and Jay, respectively. He was the proud Pop Pop of ten grandchildren, Sean and Jackson of Portage IN; Chloe of Albuquerque NM; Emma and Hana of Roanoke VA; Megan of Cary NC; Michael and Anna of Salisbury MD; Rachel and JJ of Mooresville NC. Jack's life was filled with the love and fellowship of his family and friends. He was a man of generosity, kindness and strength for all that knew him, and his loss will be felt deeply by his family and his many close friends. Visitation will begin at McLean Funeral Directors in Gastonia on Tuesday, January 8, starting with a service of 'The Little Office of the Resurrection' at 6:00PM followed by general visitation until 8PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Gastonia on Wednesday January 9th at 10:30AM. A Burial service will follow at Belmont Abbey Cemetery in Belmont. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations should be made to St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd., Belmont, NC 28012. Condolences may be sent online by visiting www.mcleanfuneral.com.