Lawrence J. Coffin

Lawrence J. Coffin, 85, died of natural causes on July 9, 2017 at the Bridge Assisted Living facility in Greeley, Colorado. He leaves behind two children, Chris Coffin from the Boston MA area, and Cathy Heise and her husband, Gary, from Greeley CO, along with four grandchildren, Gerry, Alyssa, Melanie and Kevin. His loving wife, Ann, left us about a year ago; Larry and Ann waltzed through life hand in hand for over 60 years. He will be fondly remembered for his journalistic talents and artistic flair with a camera. Mr. Coffin was born July 13, 1931 in Honolulu and grew up in Berkeley, CA, attending local schools. He graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley in 1953 with a degree in Journalism. He was almost named to the Phi Beta Kappa Society but couldn’t quite compete with his wife, Ann. He is, however, a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity where he was better known as "Nails.” Larry particularly enjoyed his time at the cabin at Lake Tahoe, swinging away with Chris and Cathy while munching on snack boxes of Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes. Offset by a mean martini at dusk on the front porch, often with Aunt Joan and Uncle Frank, most often over James Bond novels and a hand of gin rummy. He enjoyed Carnelian Bay, watching crayfish nibble at his kids’ toes. Larry’s mother, Jane, was an accomplished sculptress, and his father, Harold was the original Tweeter…check out Coffin’s Needle. January 16th, National Nothing Day, will live in infamy. He also served his country gladly as 1st Lieutenant in the USAF, stationed in Hokaido, Japan as a supply officer. The troops still wonder what happened to the gin, though. Also served some time in the outpost of Cheyenne, Wyoming…Back to Cheyenne! Larry devoted his life to journalism and photography. He started his career as a reporter for the Record Searchlight in Redding, California. A shift to public relations brought him to Pacific Bell, soon to be AT&T, as he dragged his family from San Francisco to the Big Apple. As a guest columnist for the Hilton Head Island Packet, Larry brought a northerner’s perspective to the low country or, as Dad would say, "The Education of a Yankee in Low Country Ways.” Mr. Coffin was a member of the Oyster Reef Golf Club and the Camera Club on Hilton Head Island and an avid "painter” of squirrels. Hilarious story, call for details. Services will be private for family members. Donations, if desired, may be made to "TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado”, 2726 W. 11th Street Road, Greeley, CO 80634, in memory of Lawrence J. Coffin.