Roger L. Coutu Jr.

Roger Coutu, Jr., age 74, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on December 6, 2025, as a result of complications following surgery.
Roger was a resident of Narragansett, RI, and Singer Island, FL. He was born in Woonsocket, RI, the son of the late Roger Coutu, Sr., and Therese (Varieur) Coutu.

Roger leaves behind his wife of nearly 50 years, Maureen A. Hobson. Roger and Maureen met each other while working their summer school jobs in 1970 and were inseparable from that time forward.

Roger graduated from Mount St. Charles Academy and went on to earn an engineering degree from the University of RI. He was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. Following that, he obtained an MBA from URI while working as an Administrator at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, RI. Roger then took on the position of Director of Engineering for Vector Healthsystems in Providence, RI, while simultaneously attending law school at Suffolk University. Roger's years at Vector were many and resulted in friendships that he maintained throughout his lifetime.

Roger joined his wife in the practice of law in 1986 at the firm of Hobson & Coutu, Ltd. Utilizing his engineering and business background, Roger focused his legal skills in the areas of commercial, corporate, and land use law. There, he developed a group of loyal and long-standing clients, many of whom became his closest friends.

Outside of the office, Roger engaged in the activities that most defined his life. He and Maureen were introduced to sailboats in 1976. From that moment, Roger became obsessed with sailboat racing and the camaraderie it provided within his own crew and on the race course with other competitors. Roger and his crew put forth maximum effort and were able to secure numerous victories, including winning several J 35 North American and New England championships, as well as numerous Narragansett Bay events. In the winter, the crew that sailed together skied together. Always together, they were part of Roger's family. Roger was a member of the East Greenwich and Newport Yacht Clubs for over 40 years, and he most recently owned several power boats that he and Maureen would cruise with the EGYC. In addition to boating, Roger enjoyed many years of golfing. He was a member of Eastpointe Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and a former member of Quidnessett Country Club in Warwick. The friends he made golfing are a close and loyal group. He looked forward to every outing with his golf guys.

In addition to Maureen, Roger leaves behind his younger and much-loved brother, John Coutu, his wife Jane, and their children, Emily and Katie. Roger also leaves his sister-in-law, Judy Coutu (wife of his late brother, Gerry), and their children, Stacey and Matthew. Roger also leaves behind his wife's sister, Diane M. Fitzpatrick, her husband Michael, and their children Michael, Andrew, and Maureen.

Lastly, Roger leaves his beagle pal, Rita, who was a source of much fun and comfort to him.

Roger would want to extend his thanks and gratitude to his many friends and neighbors who sustained Maureen throughout the long ordeal of his illness and hospitalizations. You are all priceless and much appreciated. Also, Roger would certainly like to recognize the tremendously dedicated staff who attended to him at MGH.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to Roger's Life Celebration to be held with visitation on Monday, December 15, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 12 NOON in the J. J. Duffy Funeral Home, 757 Mendon Road, Rt. 122, Cumberland. A prayer service will be held at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Massachusetts General Hospital, Cardiac Intensive Care Surgical Unit, C/O MGH Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114. (https://giving.massgeneral.org/)

ONLINE MEMORIAL: jjduffyfuneralhome.com

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