Thomas Joseph Cotter

Thomas Joseph Cotter, 76 of Port St. Lucie, Fla., passed away May 29, 2016, at Treasure Coast Hospice after a short but valiant fight against cancer. He was born December 25, 1939, in Woodside, N.Y. He lived most of his life in Kings Park, N.Y. After working at American Airlines as an aircraft inspector for 33 years, he retired 17 years ago and moved to Villas of Village Green in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

In Florida, Cotter became a parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church, in Port St. Lucie. He was also a proud member of the local Wally Biner Airstream RV club. Cotter loved to travel the country in his RV, visiting places near and far, and he was also was an enthusiastic worldwide traveler—he especially loved traveling by cruise ship.

Cotter, a veteran of the United States Air Force, is survived by his brother Michael Cotter and his wife, Noreen. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Frances Ann Cotter and his cherished son, Joseph.

He was also predeceased by his brother Jack Cotter and his wife, Lucy, and by his mother, Evelyn Farrugia and her husband, Frank, and also by his father, Michael B. Cotter.

He was the proud uncle of David Cotter and his wife, Diane; Robert Cotter; Donna Cotter Kolb and her husband, Wayne; Michael Cotter and his wife, Nancy; Thomas Cotter, Michael Cannella and his wife, Sue; Christine Vinje and her husband, Matt; Joseph Vreeland and his wife, Carol; Evelyn Cotter Foley and her husband, Kevin; Kathleen Vreeland Dugan and her husband, Chris; Virginia Wilford Cotter, wife Cynthia Jeannie Zampa O' Flaherty and her husband, Kevin; Susan Zampa Derleth and her husband, Dennis; Jennifer Zampa Rowe and her husband, Henry.

Tom was blessed with and cherished his many grandnieces and nephews. Tom had many close cousins, including Richard and Ellen Geraghty, Joan and Pat Fenton, Kathleen Lynch and son Christopher Falcioni, Mary Gaye and Jeff Tinley, and Nancy and Wilson Acevedo.

Tom is also survived by his dear friend, Gayle Palmer; and good friends Don and Fran Davison; Jerry and Mary McErlean; and Jack and Mary McLoughlin.

Viewing will be held at Aycock Funeral Home, 1170 Southwest Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34983, Wednesday June 1, 2016 from 4-7pm with a vigil service. A mass of Christian burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2330 SE Mariposa Ave, Port St Lucie, FL 34952 on Thursday June 2, 2016 at 12 pm.

Additionally, a viewing will be held in Kings Park, N.Y., on June 7 at Clayton funeral home, 25 Meadow Road, Kings Park, N.Y. (631) 269 6421. Followed by church services on June 8 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Kings Park. Thomas will be interred at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Smithtown, N.Y. The family asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Treasure Coast Hospice in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Arrangements under the direction of Aycock Funeral Home, Byrd, Young & Prill, Port St. Lucie, FL.