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Roy Coffin Obituary
COFFIN THE REV. ROY R. COFFIN, Jr. "Rip" On Wednesday, September 10, 2008, died in the comfort of his home in Chevy Chase, MD. Beloved husband of Carol Coffin; loving father of Debbie Coffin, Tip (Denise) Coffin and the late Cindy Coffin; brother of Eve Hoffman and Gay Grissom; grandfather of Sadie and Hannah Coffin, Aidan and Lukas Coffin Ness. Also survived by his son-in-law Erik Ness. Memorial Service will be held at St. Columba's Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20016 on Saturday, September 20 at 11 a.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Interim Ministry Network, 5740 Executive Drive, Suite 220, Baltimore, MD 21228 or a charity of your choice.
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Memories and Condolences
for Roy Coffin
Paul N Svingen
September 8, 2021
Remembering a wonderful trip "Rip" and I took from your home to Cumberland to lead an "I & O" for interim pastoral candidates. Many good thoughts from that trip. Paul (living and serving as interim pastor yet in MN. #38 in 45 years.
Cynthia Huheey
September 30, 2008
Rip touched many lives during his work in interim ministry and his active work to form the Interim Ministry Network. I could always count on him to fill in the history details and connect it to the present. He was tireless in working for never ending improvement in the IMN training. We will miss his many contributions of ideas for speakers and topics for the Annual Conferences. He was an inspirition to clergy and lay alike. I know that my life is richer for having known him. May Carol find comfort in knowing how much of Rip lives on in others.
Margaret Bain
September 22, 2008
Rip was a good friend and mentor. I was so sorry to hear of his passing. It was great to have seen him at the IMN conference this year. He will indeed be remembered for his dedication to the calling of Interim Ministry.
Dave Wright
September 22, 2008
I was very sorry to hear of Rip's illness and death--too late to attend his funeral. He was at our 30th reunion at Virginia Theological Seminary last year, just about this time; I'm glad he made that dinner. It was great to see him after all these years.
Ineke Mitchell
September 17, 2008
Rip's commitment to transitional ministry will live on in the many lives he touched through his teaching. I'll continue to remember him whenever I eat ice cream.
Paul N. Svingen
September 16, 2008
Carol, I remember particularly a trip in 1991 that Rip and I took in the light yellow mini-van from your beautiful Chevy Chase home to Cumberland, MD. We co-led an "I & O" and from that event a few folks went on to take training and become members of the IMN. Rip's commitment to intentional interim ministry was beyond question. Along with Bette, Terry, Bee and myself, Rip teamed up to offer the first of 21 consecutive annual Basics to a class of 47 participants at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.... and his influence was significant in the formation of the Episcopal Interim Ministers Association formed in Darien, Ill. He signed on to NALIP and several of us Lutherans recipro-cated with associative membership in the Episcopal counterpart. Good, good days in the development of IIM ... a pathway that has shaped my life for good. Thanks Rip..and Carol too.
Blessings on you as you greet future days with a different face and with love and gratitude give honor to the memory of his life and ministry.
S. Mortimer Ward, IV
September 16, 2008
Rip was a courageous visionary in the field of transitional ministry. Communities of faith worldwide have benefited both directly by his personal interventions and indirectly by the work of hundreds of professionals whom he trained. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Mary Mason
September 16, 2008
Rip Coffin was a leader of leaders. His ready smile, compassionate nature and ministry of hospitality will be long remembered.
The Interim Ministry community was enriched by his teaching and practice. Deepest sympathy to family and friends.
Gary Goldacker
September 16, 2008
Rip was a powerful role model for interim work and an inspiration to all of us who knew and worked with him. His wisdom, insight and humor made working with him a joy in every way. May he go from strength to strength in God's greater kingdom and rejoice with the saints in light eternal.
Andy Carlsson
September 16, 2008
Thank you for your leadership and zeal in the ministry of working with congregations in pastoral transition. It was a privilege learning from you and working with you!
God's blessing and comfort to Carol and family
Lynn Carman Bodden
September 16, 2008
Rip was one of the giants for those of us in interim ministry - and that seemed imposing to me when I was brand new. He'd been there on the ground floor, and at every conference. He taught and developed program and knew the "bigwigs." Over time, I came to know the man a little bit, and not just the aura, and I am so grateful for his gentle spirit and careful listening. He will be missed.
Rip in Pella, IA, 1996, taking a break from teaching IM Basic in a UCC camp setting.
September 15, 2008
Susan De Simone
September 15, 2008
All of us who specialized in serving churches in transition owe a great debt to Rip. He was devoted to the Interim Ministry network and its mission to serve churches in transition. What he did for us all would be enough, but the reason we remember him with such affection is his humanity, his true confidence in God, his self-deprecating humor, his humility, his gentleness and . . . his love of ice cream. Vince joins me in expressing sorrow that Rip left us all too soon.
Peter Winterble
September 15, 2008
Rip was a long-time member of St. John's, Georgetown, from whence he went on to ordained ministry and a remarkable life as one of the earliest priests to make interim work a career choice. It was always a pleasure working with him as a colleague and friend, and his intensity, energy and focus were always made manifest. May God be thanked for his life, and may there be continued blessings on him an his family. He was a fine man.
Crystal Wells
September 15, 2008
Rip will be greatly missed. He had passion and hope for Interim Ministry. Working with him was and honor and a pleasure.
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