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

06 October 2024

Obituary of Alan Hall Coogan 

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(extracted from "Record Courier" [Kent, OH], 12 AUG 2023):

ALAN COOGAN OBITUARY

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Alan H. Coogan, 93, of Kent, passed away peacefully at his home on 
Friday, July 28, 2023. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on Dec 19, 1929 to 
the late Dorothy Amelia Baker and Francis Alan Coogan, Jr. He grew up 
in the San Francisco area and even swam across the Bay in his late 
teens!

Following high school, he attended the University of California-
Berkeley where he earned a Bachelor's Degree. He went on to be a 
Fulbright scholar in Vienna, Austria. During the Korean War, he was 
drafted into the United States Army, attended Army language school, 
and served as an interpreter for displaced persons after WW II in 
Vienna, Austria. After being honorably discharged, he returned to 
the States and earned a Master's Degree and PhD in paleontology from 
the University of Illinois. He worked as a geologist focusing on 
subsurface exploration research for Shell and Humble Oil before 
becoming a geology professor at Kent State University where he taught 
from 1967 until his retirement in January 1999. While teaching at 
Kent State, he earned a J.D. from the University of Akron in 1978. He 
used his law degree to focus on Environmental law, mainly oil & gas 
related issues. He was instrumental in the oil & gas industry in Ohio 
& Pennsylvania and was called as an expert witness in countless 
lawsuits.

Following his retirement, he continued practicing law (into his late 
80s!), taught himself a couple new languages, got his realtor's 
license, and was always reading something. Alan loved to learn and 
thoroughly enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. He was like a 
walking encyclopedia! He was always helping his kids with homework, 
telling stories of his adventures, identifying rocks (SO many rocks!!) 
when traveling with us, or just "talking shop" with anyone who would 
listen. He was a wonderful father and doting grandfather. He lit up 
any time any of his grandchildren came to visit.

Alan was preceded in death by Sylvia Coogan (ex-wife), and brother 
Robert Coogan. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Loretta Coogan, 
three sons-Daniel, Peter (Karla Armbruster) and Stephen (DeeDee), 
stepchildren Patricia (Donald) Nesbitt and Mark (Tatum) Heath, his 8 
grandchildren, Lila Armbruster & Lucinda "Luka" Coogan, Lily & Sylvia 
Coogan, Katelyn (Francisco) Medina & Brandon Stephenson, and Sydney & 
Trinity Heath, as well as 3 great-grandsons.

In honoring his wishes, Alan will be cremated and a Celebration of 
Life will be held at a later date.

Services in care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 
W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.

https://www.record-courier.com/obituaries/pwoo0546194
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