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20 October 2013

Obituary of John Michael Coogan

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(extracted from "Washington Post" [DC], 27 JAN 2013):

J. MICHAEL COOGAN

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On January 27, 2013 J. Michael Coogan, beloved husband of Patricia 
Connor Coogan, and loving father of Aimee and Aileen Coogan, 
Courtenay Coogan Allen, and Catherine Keen (Steve Stark). Devoted 
grandfather of Alanna Coogan, Rory Bernard-Coogan, Holly and 
Finnian Allen. A Mass will be held on Friday February 1, at St. 
Mary's Church, Rockville, MD. Contributions in Michael's memory may 
be made to S.O.M.E. or Hospice.

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(extracted from "Washington Post" [DC], 27 JAN 2013):

COOGAN

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MICHAEL COOGAN (Age 81) - Inventor and diplomat, born April 23, 1931 
to Amy Donlan and Michael E Coogan, will be remembered not only for 
his professional contributions, but also for his many years of 
heartfelt service to the community as a volunteer. He was a beloved 
husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, and a man known 
for his offbeat but ever good-natured sense of humor. Michael died 
at home on January 27, 2013 after complications from a fall. Mr. 
Coogan was born in Seattle, where he grew to love the outdoors. His 
sense of adventure found him exploring the Olympic Mountains, where 
he led 5-day-hikes as an Eagle Scout. Physics was his first academic 
love, but his intellectual curiosity also brought about a 
fascination with radio. In high school, Michael passed his radio 
engineer's exam and became licensed with the FCC. He ate up the days 
spent as a substitute radio station operator and announcer, where he 
ran the equipment, read the news and commercials, and was in charge 
of selecting music and running serial programming. Michael laughed 
years later remembering an irate farmer's call to the station the 
day he forgot to play the Lone Ranger installment. A student at the 
University of Washington on a naval ROTC scholarship, Mr. Coogan 
served in the navy during the summers and then on the destroyer USS 
Point Cruz. After college, Michael went to work at NASA, and it was 
there that he invented the "dual fly-by mode' of taking measurements 
of a planet through the atmosphere using a platform on each side of 
the planet. He earned his Master's degree in Biophysics at Stanford 
University at that time, as well. In the early 1970s, Michael joined 
the State Department and was sent to Paris as science attaché. He 
later served at the American Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. After 
retiring, Michael and his wife, Trish, settled in the Washington, 
D.C. area. He returned to school and then went back to work as a 
nurse practitioner. Of course, for as long as his family could 
remember, Michael had been taking classes in microbiology and 
anatomy and physiology, just for the love of learning. A devoted 
volunteer for many years, Michael enjoyed giving so much back to the 
community that he loved. He provided medical care and listened 
compassionately to clients in difficult life circumstances at 
Zacchaeus Clinic and Bread for the City, where he served as a nurse 
practitioner. Michael was a born counselor, always available with a 
listening ear. His regular expression of gratitude for life and the 
love of those around him made him quite an extraordinary man. His 
family and friends adored him, and we will miss him terribly. Our 
Michael is survived by his wife, Patricia, of 54 years; his daughter 
Cathy Keen and son-in-law Steve Stark, his daughters Aimee Coogan, 
Aileen Coogan, and Courtenay Allen; and his grandchildren, Alanna 
Coogan, Holly and Finn Allen, and Rory Bernard-Coogan. Michael also 
has two brothers, Patrick and Joseph Coogan, several close cousins, 
and his men's group brothers. He counted many other friends among 
his family as well. Services and interment will be at Arlington 
National Cemetery on October 21 at 12:15 p.m. in the Chapel.Services 
and interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery on October 21 
at 12:15 p.m. in the Chapel.

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