http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

06 June 2010

Obituary of William J. Coogan 

___________________________________________________________________
(extracted from "Westfield Record" [NJ], 19 SEP 1996, PAGE A-7):

WILLIAM J. COOGAN, 78
Marine Corps officer; CIA Agent

WESTFIELD - William J. Coogan, 78, died Sept. 15, 1996, at Jersey
Shore Medical Center in Neptune.  He had been a decorated Marine
Corps officer in World War II and a senior agent with the Central
Intelligence Agency after the war.

He was born in Jersey City and lived in Westfield before moving
to Avon-by-the-Sea in 1995.

Mr. Coogan was awarded a Silver Star for valor on Iwo Jima and a
Bronze Star for valor on Saipan during the war.  He also was 
awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in wartime combat
and held the rank of major on his discharge from the Marines in
1948.

He joined the CIA in 1948 and was the senior agent in charge of the
Agency's office in New York City office when he retired in 1978.
Mr. Coogan graduated in 1948 from John Marshall College, in Jersey
City, and in 1951 from Rutgers School of Law.

Surviving are his wife, Marie Murray Coogan; a son, William J.;
three daughters, Maryelyn Chapman, Kathleen Calabro and Meg Blake;
and five grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated yesterday at St. Elizabeth's Roman
Catholic Church, Avon-by-the-Sea, following services at the O'Brien
Funeral Home in Wall.

http://archive.wmlnj.org/TheWestfieldRecordPress/1996/1996-09/pg_0007.pdf

___________________________________________________________________
(extracted from "Scotch Plains/Fanwood Times" [NJ], 19 SEP 1996, 
PAGE 10):

WILLIAM J. COOGAN, 78, WAR HERO,
RETIRED SENIOR AGENT WITH CIA

William J. Coogan, 78, of Avon, formerly of Westfield, a World War
II hero who became a Senior Agent with the Central Intelligence
Agency, died Sunday, September 15, in the Jersey Shore Medical
Center in Neptune.

Born in Jersey City, he had lived in Westfield before moving to
Avon a year ago.

A United States Marine Corps World War II veteran, he was wounded
twice and was awarded two Purple Hearts.  He received the Silver
Star for Valor on Iwo Jima and the Bronze Star for action in 
Saipan.

He was discharged in 1948 with the rank of major.

Mr. Coogan retired 18 years ago as Senior Agent in charge of the 
New York City office of the Central Intelligence Agency after 30
years of service.

He was a 1948 graduate of John Marshall College in Jersey City and
a 1951 graduate of the Rutgers University Law School.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary Coogan; a son, William J. Coogan;
three daughters, Mrs. Maryelyn Chapman, Mrs. Kathleen Calabro and
Mrs. Meg Blake, and five grandchildren.  

A Funeral Mass was offered yesterday, Wednesday, September 18, in
St. Elizabeth's Church in Avon, following the funeral from the
O'Brien Funeral Home in Wall.

http://www.thejointlibrary.org/archives/TheTimes/1996/1996-09-19/pg_0010.pdf

___________________________________________________________________