JOSEPH F. COATES

COATES JOSEPH F. COATES Joseph F. Coates was a pioneer in the analysis and interpretation of futures studies and a leader in the early development of the concept of technology assessment. Joe died on October 16, 2014, at his home in Chevy Chase, DC. Trained in organic chemistry, Joe held degrees from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and Penn State. In 1962 he was recruited by the Institute of Defense Analysis in Washington, where he wrote about possible forms of future conflict and the devolopment of non-lethal weapons. He moved to the National Science Foundation in the early 1970's to head a new program in Technology Assessment. When Congress established its Office of Technology Assessment, Joe served as assistant to the OTA's first Director. Joe held eighteen patents. In 1978 Joe established one of the first futures consulting firms, J.F. Coates Inc., later Coates and Jarratt Inc. , advising clients across the US and in a dozen foreign countries. After his retirement from the firm, Joe reincorporated himself as Joseph Coates, Consulting Futurist. He authored or co-authored four books and 300 articles, and served on the editorial boards of eleven journals. Much of Joe's work can be found at JosephCoates.com. Joe was an adjunct professor at George Washington University and at American University. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Claremont College in 1986. He was an early and active member of the World Future Society, and an early member of the Association of Professional Futurists. Joe was also a member of the Cosmos Club and a Fellow of the AAAS and the Washington Academy of Sciences. Joe is survived by his wife, Vary Taylor Coates, by five children (Marcy Canavan, Peter Coates, Matthew Coates, Anna Scotti, and Vary Elizabeth Coates), 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Joe was known for his formidable intelligence, encyclopedic knowledge of many fields of science, history, and the humanities, and for his rapier wit. He will be especially remembered for his kindness and generosity toward generations of students and employees. A memorial service is planned for November 8. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Covenant House, New York. A memorial service is planned for November 8. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Covenant House, New York.