Memorial Mass, John J. Coughlin

Milford CT

13 May, 2021

12:38 PM

Description

In Memoriam John J. Coughlin St. Gabriel RC Church 26 Broadway Milford, CT 06460 A Memorial Mass will be held for John J. Coughlin on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gabriel Church. COVID mandates, masks and social distancing as required. John J. Coughlin of Milford, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2020 at Yale New Haven Hospital. John was born on June 8, 1941 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut to the late Francis T. Coughlin and Sarah “Sally” (Lahey) Coughlin. Besides his wife, Phyllis (Sbalbi) Coughlin, John is survived by his loving children, Mary Frances Coughlin (Finnell) of Hamden, Connecticut, John J. Coughlin, Jr. of Old Lyme, Connecticut and Patrick M. Coughlin of Orange, Connecticut, as well as two step-sons, Richard N. Seiden of New Haven, Connecticut and Daniel J. Seiden of North Branford, Connecticut. John leaves his beloved grandchildren, John (Jack) Finnell, III and Michael P. Finnell of Milford, Connecticut, Mackenzie Ryan Coughlin of East Haven, Connecticut, John J. Coughlin (Ian) and Chadwick (Chad) Coughlin, both of Old Lyme, Connecticut; his loving nephew, Francis T. Coughlin, and niece, Cortney Bedard. John was a proud graduate of Bunker Hill School and Crosby High School in Waterbury. He continued his education at Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island, class of 1963. During his years at Providence, he met his former wife, the late Frances C. Skelly. John was a life-long fan of Providence Basketball, the Friars, attending as many games as possible. After college, John attended Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1966. Thereafter, he embarked on a long legal career, commencing with Legal Aid in Bridgeport, Connecticut, then moving into private practice in Milford, Connecticut where he continued to practice until 2019 when he was caused to retire due to ill health. Practicing law was a labor of love for John, a career he never tired of, and never wanted to retire from. John was admitted to practice in Connecticut, the United States District Court-District of Connecticut, the United States Tax Court, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. He was a strong advocate for his clients and a staunch supporter of justice for all – without discrimination. He was an Assistant Attorney for the City of Milford and throughout his career a member of the American, Connecticut and Milford Bar Associations, American Trial Lawyers Association and Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. John spent many happy vacations with his family, skiing in New England and Colorado, and scuba diving in the Caribbean islands. Every summer John enjoyed cruising the waters of Long Island Sound on his boat, the inimitable ‘C’ Crew, with family and friends. Often, Friday evenings in the summer were devoted to diving for lobsters with friends and family, then enjoying the fruits of their labors. Early spring signaled time to start readying the boat for the water, always planning to launch in late spring, or early summer at the latest, the ‘C’ Crew often didn’t hit the water until mid, or even late, summer. The later the launch, the dearer each boating day. Nonetheless, all the work and preparation did not assure smooth sailing, the ‘C’ Crew was well known to o Sea Tow. John was undeterred…..there was always next weekend.