Category: Obituary: C

The Rev. Joseph Ira Craig, 82, died June 11, 2009. He was an aerial photographer in the US Army. Ordained a Methodist, he went on to serve Unitarian churches in Norton and Fitchburg, MA and Augusta, ME. He was a librarian at the Augusta Mental Health Institute for more than 20 years. A civil rights activist, he marched from Selma to Montgomery, AL and served on the Maine State Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights. He was a member of the Unitarian Historical Society, secretary of the Maine Unitarian Association, and on the Board of Directors of the NE District of the UUMA. He enjoyed reading, theology, history, painting, fencing, and music. He played viola in the Augusta Symphony for many years. Survivors include his daughter, Leslie Flores, and her husband, three stepsons and their spouses, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The Reverend Dr. Alexander Craig, public school educator and administrator, parish minister, gifted counselor, and dedicated servant of the human family, died on July 22, 2014, aged 76.

Alexander Lincoln Craig was born in Boston on October 22, 1937, to Emily and Edward Craig.  Earning a B.Ed. in 1959 and an M.Ed. in 1961, both at Keene State College, he began a 28-year career as an educator, while completing work for an Ed.D. at Syracuse University in 1968.  Focusing mainly on special education, he worked in public school administration, college teaching, residential care, and institutional care, serving school districts in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Leaving this career at age fifty to pursue interest in Unitarian Universalist ministry, Mr. Craig completed three years of study at Bangor Theological Seminary and was ordained by the First Universalist Church of Sangerville, Maine, in 1990.  After two years of yoked interim ministry with that church and the nearby First Universalist Church of Dexter, he accepted a joint call to settle as their permanent minister and continued with them for another eight years.  Moving on to Florida, the Rev. Mr. Craig served the UU Church of St. Petersburg as co-consulting minister (2001-05) and then the Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists of Odessa as part time minister (2005-12), meanwhile returning to the St. Petersburg church  as pastoral care minister (2009-12).  He was named Minister Emeritus of both congregations in 2012, but stayed with the Odessa congregation as occasional preacher and pastor for two more years.

In the Northeast District of the UUA, Alec Craig served as Chair of Extension and Chair of Adult Activities, Disaster Coordinator for the UU Service Committee, and liaison to students at Bangor Theological Seminary.  Later he served terms as vice-president and president of Florida’s West Central Cluster of UU Congregations.

Volunteer community work was a central commitment of Mr. Craig’s life, as both educator and minister.  In New England, he served as board member and president of the Charlotte White Center (supporting the mentally and physically challenged), on the Fund Raising Committee for Womancare (assisting victims of domestic abuse), and on the Dexter Regional High School Civil Rights team.  He was a member of the Interfaith Alliance and the ACLU, worked for Habitat for Humanity, and taught safe driving courses for the AARP.  In Florida, he worked part time for the Salvation Army.

Alec had a gift for pastoral care and is described by his wife, Penny, as a “humanitarian” who “enjoyed serving people.”  She recalled particularly his devotion to end-of-life pastoral care: “He loved doing funerals, and loved visiting people in nursing homes and hospitals, holding their hands, and making sure their families felt like they were being heard.”

Alec Craig is survived by his wife, Penny Craig; son Geoffrey Craig, daughter Emily Kirk, granddaughters Allora Craig and Hannah Kirk, and brothers Duncan Craig and Edward Craig.

A Scottish Celebration of Life was held in October 2014 in Seminole, Florida, and a second Scottish Celebration of Life was slated for New Hampshire during the summer of 2015.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601 (www.lung.org) and/or to your local hospice organization.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Penny Craig, 9053 Pinehurst Drive, Seminole, Florida 33777.

The Rev. Robert L. Cope, 81, died September 1, 2004 in Lebanon, NH. He served churches in Princeton, NJ; Henderson, New York City, and Buffalo, NY; and was a professor of religious education at St. Lawrence Theological School. After retiring from the ministry, he was a vice president of sales for a multi-media production company in New York City. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Bateman Cope of Quechee, VT; a son, Christopher R. Cope, of Hartford, CT; and s daughter, Catherine (Cope) Cavalier, of Boston.

The Rev. Max Alden Coots, 81, died in at home March 3, 2009 from lymphoma. He served congregations in New York City, Cortland, Canton and Central Square, NY. His longtime friend the Rev. Jack Taylor writes, “In the late 1980s, Max, whose chief avocation was gardening, shared a poem with his congregation as a Thanksgiving meditation. [His poem appeared in the November 2008 Elderberries.] It became a significant experience for thousands of families and individuals.” Max will also be remembered for his wit and his love of puns. He was a US Navy veteran and a graduate of Bucknell College and Columbia University. He was awarded a Doctor of Sacred Theology at Starr King School for the Ministry. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Ramsay of Canton, three sons, a step-daughter, step-son, five grandchildren and six step-grandsons.

Susan Elizabeth Cooper, 90, widow of The Rev. Henry Cooper, died Oct. 17, 2012, In Burlington VT. She was born on Aug. 13, 1922, in Indianapolis, IN, to Ralph Stephenson and Mildred Hill Stephenson. The family lived in Alabama and Washington before settling in Michigan. Susan graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in 1940 and earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan in 1944.

On April 5, 1944, Susan married Henry Cooper following his return from work as an ambulance driver for the American Field Service in the Middle East. His service in the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army took them to bases in Colorado and Iowa. After the war, they moved to Chicago where Henry attended Meadville Theological School at the University of Chicago. His career as a Unitarian minister led them to parishes in eight communities in Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Susan participated actively in church activities.

She taught school briefly and took graduate courses at Assumption College in Worcester, Mass. Committed to issues of peace and social justice, she attended the 1963 civil rights march in Washington D.C., participated in the peace movement, and was member of a court diversion board in Springfield. After Henry’s death in 1984, she moved to Burlington where she was active in the Unitarian Universalist Society and the AAUW. She volunteered at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont and met with friends monthly to read plays aloud. During the last three years of her life she participated in a clinical research trial of a drug designed to alter the course of Alzheimer’s disease.

In March 2010, Susan found a peaceful home in the Gardenview unit at the Converse Home in Burlington. She was cared for by gentle, thoughtful people who appreciated her feisty personality, her quirky wit, her remarkable vocabulary, her knowledge of current and historical events, and her concern for the needs of other residents. She was no longer burdened by responsibilities, she was never lonely, and she was engaged in interesting activities. She lived joyfully in the moment, stopping to pick up a fallen leaf, to look at a flower, or to watch a butterfly. Her family is immensely grateful for the refuge which Converse Home provided.

Susan is survived by her daughter, Marga Sproul and her husband, Glenn, of South Burlington; her son, Paul Cooper and his wife, Rebecca Eaton, of Kennebunkport, ME; her daughter, Christine Cooper of Seattle, WA.; her son, Hal Cooper of Moscow, ID; and five grandchildren.

Notes of remembrance may go to Dr. Marga S. Sproul, G-8 Stonehedge Dr., S. Burlington, VT 05403.

The Rev. Dr. David H. Cole, 90, died June 26, 2011 at home in hospice care, after a long illness. A native of Lynn, MA, he graduated from Tufts University and Crane School of Theology. He received an honorary doctorate from Meadville Lombard. He served congregations in MA, IL, MD, OH, CA and NY. He was named minister emeritus by the West Shore Unitarian Church of Rocky River, OH, when he retired there in 1986. A strong proponent of a world community, he was active in the UUSC and the IARF. He was an advocate for Palestinian issues and he helped found the Society for Community Ministries. He enjoyed sailing, carpentry, gardening, tennis, golf and playing bridge or cribbage. He liked meeting with the clergy study group in Sudbury, MA, the Fraters of the Wayside Inn. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Iska (Jurasek-Godsey) Cole and their seven children: Victoria, Steven, Linda, Karen, Cynthia, Kevin and Gloria.

Roxanne Catherine Tullsen Cohen, MD, 69, widow of the Rev. Albert Orlando, died Mar. 5, 2013 of complications from a stroke. She was a renowned obstetrician/gynecologist who served the New Orleans community in private practice for 35 years. Cathy cared for countless women and delivered thousands of babies. She was born May 6, 1943, in Cincinnati and grew up in Scotch Plains, NJ, where she graduated third in her class at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. She graduated from Bucknell University and studied at The University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

She earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester and completed her internship and residency at The University of Chicago’s Lying-in Hospital. After these years, Cathy said that she would never live in a cold climate again.

Cathy also served as a U.S. Navy medical officer at Camp Lejeune, NC, before joining The Women’s Medical Centers in 1975. She also provided medical expertise at Planned Parenthood of Louisiana.

An active member of the First UU Church of New Orleans, Cathy was married to long-time minister and civil rights leader, the Rev. Albert D’Orlando, until his death in 1998. Cathy was a choir member for many years and also served as President of the Board of Trustees. She supported the ACLU and grew her hair for Locks of Love. She will be remembered for her warm sense of humor, thoughtful conversation, good nature, wisdom, sense of conviction and generosity. Cathy was avid reader, who enjoyed everything from literature to People Magazine.

Her love of classical music was matched only by her dedication to TV sitcoms. Long indifferent to professional sports, after age 60, she developed a passion for the Saints and became fluent in football statistics and knew about every player. She adored her many pet dachshunds and her cats. A faithful correspondent with a penchant for traveling, Cathy maintained life-long friendships around the globe.Cathy is survived by her brother Peter Tullsen (Nancy), niece Barbara Hill (Dan), nephew John Tullsen (Evan Siegel), grandnephew Wesley Hill, and grandniece Alaina Hill. She is also greatly missed by her companion, Nick Napolitano.

Notes of remembrance may go to her nephew: John Tullsen, 3525 North Marshfield Ave., Chicago, IL 60657.

The Rev. John M. Coffee, Jr. died on May 8, 2012. He was 83 years old. Rev. Coffee was born in Tacoma, WA on November 20, 1928 to John M. and Lillian S. Coffee. Rev. Coffee attained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1951. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Sacred Theology from Harvard Divinity School in 1954 and 1956, respectively.

Rev. Coffee was ordained by the First Unitarian Church of Tacoma, WA on August 15, 1954. From there, he was called to the First Church in Roxbury, MA and served as its Minister from 1955-1977. He served the Church of Our Father in East Boston, MA from 1961-1974; and the Benevolent Fraternity of Unitarian Universalist Churches from 1978-1982. As an interim minister, he served at the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI from 1977-1979. He was Minister Emeritus at the First Unitarian Church in Roxbury from 1977 until the end of his life. He also served as president of the Boston Minister’s Association.

Rev. Coffee taught for 39 years (1966-2005) at Emerson College in Boston, MA. As a longtime faculty member and eventual Professor Emeritus of History, Rev. Coffee was known by colleagues and students, alike, as a “talented storyteller who brought history alive in his classroom.” He was also one of the authors of A Century of Eloquence, a large volume on the his- tory of Emerson College.

Rev. Coffee was an avid collector of transportation tokens. In fact, at the time of his death, he owned the world’s largest collection of transportation tokens. He was the author of several books on the matter including Land Company and Real Estate Tokens, Automobile Washing Tokens, and The Atwood-Coffee Catalogue of United States and Canadian Transportation Tokens.

Rev. Coffee is survived by loving friends, colleagues and students.

Dorothy Moore Clary, 82, wife of the Rev. Bruce Clary, died December 23, 2010. She had been a physical education teacher who had a passion for teaching. She enjoyed swimming. During Bruce’s ministry at First Church, Dedham, MA, Dottie was an active member of the Women’s Alliance. Her work on the Alliance board included serving as co- president. She is remembered for helping with mailing the newsletter, networking, greeting and working on the church’s holly fair fundraiser. She supported the Dedham Food Pantry, volunteering many hours on behalf of the congregation. When she turned 80, Dottie was presented with the Clara Barton Award by the First Church (Dedham) Women’s Alliance. She is survived by her brother Charles Moore of Greenfield, MA, by three grandchildren and by her husband of 33 years.

The Rev. Bruce M. Clary, 72, died September 15, 2011. He earned his BA from the University of Tulsa and his Bachelor of Divinity from Meadville Lombard. He served churches in Bridgewater, MA; Oklahoma City, OK; Barre, VT; Stoughton, MA; Mentor, OH; and First Church and Dedham, MA, which named him minister emeritus. He served on the UUSC Board, the UUMA Exec, the CLF RE Committee, the LREDA Board, the Ballou Channing District RE Committee, and the Unitarian Sunday School Society. He was listed in Who’s Who in Religion and Who’s Who in America. He had received Special Recognition by the UUSC and had been awarded the Oklahoma Governor’s Award for Community Service. He authored a number of books, including Views from the Iceberg. In retirement his interests included painting, photography, writing, cooking, community theater, antiques, nautical history, and Native American art and rituals. He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Clary, in December. He is survived by his son, David Clary, his daughter-in-law, three granddaughters, and his sister, Barbara Clary Martin, and her husband, and by a niece and two nephews.