Brian Coughlin

Brian Coughlin, 63, of the Sandy Hook section of Newtown and formerly of Fairfield, died on July 21 at his home. He had been a resident of Sandy Hook for the past one and a half years.

Mr Coughlin was born in Hartford on December 23, 1941, a son of Bernard and Rita (Chapman) Coughlin. He was raised in Stamford and was a graduate of the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, where he received a degree in electrical engineering. Following college, he was employed by Barnes Engineering (currently Goodrich Corp) for 43 years. Mr Coughlin served in the National Guard for six years.

He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Fengler, of Stamford in 1964. In October of last year, they celebrated their 40th anniversary.

A longtime resident of Fairfield, Brian was a communicant of Assumption Church where he volunteered in the Marriage Encounter programs, taught eighth grade in the CCD program, and sponsored adults entering the Catholic Church.

He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, and caring person who would do anything to help anyone in need. He had a love of building furniture and spent many years restoring his home, with the help of his sons. There was not anything he could not fix. He will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.

In addition to his wife, Brian is survived by his six children, Kevin Coughlin of Stamford, Colleen Manolakas and her husband, Michael, of Trumbull, Kelly Maron and her husband, Rick, of Fairfield, Mary Kate Pressler and her husband, David, of Flower Mound, Texas, Brian Patrick Coughlin and Kathleen Coughlin of Sandy Hook; six grandchildren, Courtney, Robert, James, Sean Ryan, Jacob, and Alexandra; a brother, Robert Coughlin of Norwalk; a sister, Jane Forte of Fairfield; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated July 25 in St Rose of Lima Church, Newtown. Interment followed in St Rose Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Can Support Care, c/o The Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford CT 06405 or to Ann’s Place, Home of I Can, One Padanaram Road, Suite 201, Danbury CT 06811.

The Newtown Bee        July 29, 2005