Christian Cottingham

Christian was born June 8, 1972, in Jonesboro, GA. He was baptized July 24, 1972, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. At the age of 5, he said to his dad, “I want to be a paramedic when I grow up.” His dad, Jim, of course said that there were many careers for him to consider such as doctors, jet pilots, etc., but Christian stuck to his plans. Christian graduated from Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia in 1990. In high school, he played basketball and ran cross-country and track. He had many friends and loved his first car…a Chevy Chevette. After high school, Christian went to Virginia Tech University for one year, but quickly realized that he still wanted to be a paramedic, and so he joined the US Army as a Medic. He served as a Medic, deploying during Desert Storm with a Patriot Missile unit to Bahrain.

After his military service, Christian returned to Virginia and finished his Paramedic training at Washington MedStar. He worked with MedStar as a helicopter paramedic for several years before deciding that he also wanted to become a firefighter. He achieved his firefighter qualifications from the State of VA in 2004. He was also an adjunct professor at George Washington University teaching Emergency Medical Services.

During Christians’ time with MedStar, he participated as a First Responder at the Pentagon during the 9/11/2001 Terrorist Attack. His helicopter was then sent on the second day to the World Trade Center in New York City. Chris never forgot the pain and terror of those days, and he wore a tattoo memorializing his fallen brother and sister first responders. Christian later moved to Chicago to take a management position with AirAngels, another Helicopter EMS service. He worked with several EMS companies in the Chicago area until 2009 when he moved to TN to be closer to his family. Since 2009, he has worked with Maury Regional Emergency Services as a Paramedic. He has also taught EMS at Northwest Shoals Community College in Alabama.

Christian was an avid soccer player and coach all his life. He played semi-pro soccer in Germany and Virginia. He was an outstanding goalie and leader. His primary love, however, was coaching young men, and he excelled at it. His former players still contacted Chris long after his coaching days as friends and for advice and encouragement.

Chris was a wonderful son and brother. He will be missed by his mother Dewey in Key West, FL, and by his father Jim and step-mother MaryBeth. Christian’s brother Matt lives in Nashville, and they shared a love for soccer and each other. Matt’s wife Gina and daughter Elizabeth will miss their brother-in-law and Uncle Chris. Christian’s sister Jami lives in Genoa, IL. He had a great relationship with her for many years.