Obituary: Richard Danforth Coe

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Richard Danforth Coe
Richard Danforth Coe

WATERTOWN — Mr. Richard Danforth Coe, 80, of Watertown, formerly of Middlebury and retired president of the Naugatuck Savings Bank, passed away on Monday evening, Oct.17, 2016 at his home. He was the husband of the late Margaret (Hanna) Coe, who passed away in 2014.

Mr. Coe was born in Waterbury, Sept. 11, 1936, a son of the late Herbert B. and Marjorie (Gretter) Coe and was educated in the Waterbury school system. He was a graduate of Nichols College and served in the U.S. Army from 1956 through 1958.

He was employed by the Naugatuck Savings Bank for over 35 years and has served as president and CEO for 17 years and retired in 1997 as chairman of the board, having served on the Board of Trustees for 28 years, from 1969 through 1997.

Mr. Coe had served on a number of board of directors including, chairman of the board of the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Naugatuck Chapter of American Red Cross, chairman of the United Way of Naugatuck and Beacon Falls, and was active in their annual fund campaigns. He had also served as vice chairman of the Board of Waterbury Hospital, president of the Mutual Investment Fund of Connecticut, and had served as president of the Bank Administration Institute and had served on various banking boards and committees for the state and national associations.

He was a former member of the Naugatuck Rotary Club, the Milford Yacht Club and was an avid sailor and skier. In 1983, he was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award from Nichols College and in 1993 he received the Lewis A. Dibble Award from the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce for his outstanding contributions to the business and socio-economic well-being of Naugatuck. He was a member of the Middlebury Congregational Church.

He is survived by his son, William S. Coe and his wife, Mary-Ellen, of Watertown; his daughter, Kathryn Moran and her husband, Kevin, of Middlebury, and his five grandchildren, Melissa, Sarah, and Megan Coe and Richard and James Moran. Besides his wife and parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Landon.

The family would like to thank and acknowledge the care and support provided by Hartford Health Care during Mr. Coe’s illness.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 at 12 p.m. at the Middlebury Congregational Church, 1242 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762. Burial will be in Middlebury Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St., Naugatuck on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Middlebury Convalescent Home, 778 Middlebury Road, Middlebury, CT 06762.

For further information or to send an email condolence, visit www.fordfh.com.