http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm 30 June 2012 Obituary of Clarence Augustus Coogan JR _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "Westerly Sun" [RI], 01 JUL 2007): CLARENCE AUGUSTUS COOGAN JR [photo] Clarence Augustus Coogan Jr. (Captain), 84, husband of Bertha M. Coogan, of Stoneridge at 186 Jerry Brown Road, Mystic, Died Tuesday, June 26. Born on June 23, 1923 and raised on Village Farm in Mystic, which was a section of the Denison Farm, his heritage includes a number of founding fathers from whom he descended – Denison, Avery, Morgan, Mason, Crumb and Wheeler, who were early settlers of the area. He married Bertha M. Coogan on July 7, 1945. He matriculated at the University of Connecticut in September of 1941, where he excelled in academics and cross country. He left the university when he enlisted in the Army Air Force as a pilot trainee. He graduated as a co-pilot of the four engine bomber the B-24 and was stationed in Italy. He was promoted to first pilot during combat experiences – an extremely rare advancement. He was awarded several medals, including four air medals. After Germany surrendered he returned to the U.S. and trained B-29 crews and became a captain in the Air Force. Once discharged he re-entered the University of Connecticut and graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts. He ultimately received a fifth year certificate, a Masters degree and a sixth year certificate. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Phi Delta Kappa. His Stonington educational experiences included teaching general science, biology and chemistry, and three years as assistant principal. His Waterford educational experiences included initiating the opening of a new junior high school (Clark Lane) as administrator in Connecticut. He finished his administrator role as assistant superintendent until he retired in 1981. He then taught in his wife's Cap n' Steve Nursery School for 12 years and completed 45 years of educating young people. Other experiences included Assessor Service of the Board of Directors and President of the Lord's Point Association and he was instrumental in saving Beach Street and having a tennis court built. He was a past Grand of Odd Fellows and was on an initiating committee to establish scholarships. He was a former member of Waterford Rotary, served as a Board of Directors member and on a committee that initiated scholarships. He transferred to Mystic Rotary and again served on the Board of Directors and on a committee initiating scholarships. In addition he was a member of the Mystic Congregational Church of Eastern Connecticut Athletic Conference, where he received a life membership for attendance at ECC games; a former corporator for the Liberty Bank for Savings and several local, state and national educational associations. He was the initiator of late arrivals in area schools; enrolled emotionally disturbed students in Waterford High School in the 1960s, he obtained an educational grant for Waterford Native Americans and was the initial founder of Project Oceanology in 1971. Students acted as administrators of the project until he retired in 1981, and was instrumental in the employment of Dr. "Mickey Weiss." Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Bertha M. Coogan, two sons, Cap Coogan and Steve Coogan and his wife Kathy Coogan, and one great- granddaughter, Chloe Coogan. Also, one bother, Francis Coogan and one sister, Ellen Marshall. Dad was predeceased by two brothers, Edward and Jesse and two sisters, Priscilla and Clarisy. A private ceremony was held for dad on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 11 a.m. the Mystic Funeral Home by James P. O'Boyle. There will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to either the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Association. A special thanks for the love and care provided by all the staff at Avalon at Stoneridge and all the doctors and nurses at The Westerly Hospital. The "Captain" will be missed. _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "New London Day" [CT], 01 JUL 2007, PAGE [12]): CLARENCE COOGAN JR [photo] MYSTIC - Clarence Augustus Coogan, Jr., retired Army Captain, 84, husband of Bertha M. Coogan of Stoneridge at 186 Jerry Browne Road, Mystic, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007. He was born on June 23, 1923, and raised on Village Farm in Mystic, which was a section of the Denison Farm. His heritage included a number of founding fathers from whom he descended, including the families Denison, Avery, Morgan, Mason, Crumb and Wheeler, who were early settlers of the area. He married Bertha M. Coogan on July 7, 1945. He matriculated at the University of Connecticut in September 1941, where he excelled in academics and cross country. He left the university when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a pilot trainee. He graduated as a co-pilot of the four-engine B-24 Liberator bomber and was stationed in Italy. He was promoted to first pilot during combat experiences, an extremely rare advancement. He was awarded several medals including four air medals. After Germany surrendered, he returned to the United States and trained B-29 crews and became a captain. Once discharged, he re-entered the University of Connecticut and graduated in 1948 with a bachelor of arts degree. He ultimately received a master's degree, and a sixth-year certificate. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Phi Delta Kappa. His Stonington educational experiences included teaching general science, biology and chemistry, and three years as assistant principal. His Waterford educational experiences included opening of a new junior high school (Clark Lane) as principal. He was the youngest secondary school administrator in Connecticut. He finished his administrative role as assistant superintendent until he retired in 1961. He then taught in his wife's Cap'N'Stove nursery school for 12 years and completed 45 years in educating young people. Other experiences included assessor service and the board of directors and president of Lords Point Association, where he was instrumental in saving Beach Street and having a tennis court built. He was a past Grand of Odd Fellows and was on an initiating committee to establish scholarships. He was a member of Waterford Rotary, serving on the board of directors and on a committee that initiated scholarships. He transferred to the Mystic Rotary and again served on the board of directors and on a committee initiating scholarships. In addition, he was a member of the Mystic Congregational Church of Eastern Connecticut; a member of the Eastern Connecticut Conference athletic association, where he received a life membership for attendance to games; a corporator of Liberty Bank; and a member of several local, state and national educational associations. He was the initiator of late arrivals in area schools; enrolled emotionally disturbed students in Waterford High School in the late 1960s; obtained an education grant for Waterford tribal members; and was the initial founder of Project Oceanology in 1971. Students acted as administrators of the project until he retired in 1961, and he was instrumental in the employment of Dr. Mickey Weiss as director of Project Oceanology. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Bertha M. Coogan; two sons, Cap Coogan of Westerly and Steve Coogan and his wife, Kathy, of Oregon; four grandsons, Skip and Damonica Coogan, Todd Coogan, Liam and Christian Coogan; and great-granddaughter, Chloe Coogan; also a brother, Francis Coogan; and a sister, Ellen Marshall; and several nieces and nephews. Clarence was predeceased by two brothers, Edward and Jesse and two sisters, Priscilla and Clarisy. A private ceremony was held for Clarence at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 30, 2007, at the Mystic Funeral Home by James P. O'Boyle. There will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to either the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Association. A special thanks for the love and care provided by all the staff at Avalon at Stoneridge and all the doctors and nurses at The Westerly Hospital. The "Captain" will be missed. http://news.google.com _______________________________________________________________________