Robert Norwood Coale MD

Falmouth - Robert Norwood Coale, age 93, died April 11, 2011 after a short stay at Falmouth by the Sea. He was born in Baltimore, MD, August 31, 1917, the son of Rev. S. Carroll Coale and Ann Brocker Coale. He grew up in Washington, DC and graduated from Dickinson College in 1939. He was admitted to the George Washington University School of Medicine, graduating with honors in 1943 with an MD degree. He interned at Garfield Memorial Hospital, Washington, DC, and entered the Army as a medical officer serving with the 84th Infantry Division in Germany during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal with clusters, the Combat Medal badge and the Army Commendation Ribbon. He was discharged from active duty in June, 1946 with the rank of Major and remained in the US Army Reserves.

After completion of his residency in Internal Medicine at the Mt. Alto Veteran’s Hospital in Washington, DC in 1948, he entered private practice in Bethesda, Maryland. During this period he was appointed Clinical Instructor of Medicine at George Washington Medical School and Hospital, and was on the medical staff of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Dr. Coale was recalled to active duty with the Army during the Korean War and was assigned to Walter Reed Army Hospital where he served as the Assistant Chief of Out-Patient Medical Services. After his discharge, he returned to private practice in Bethesda and was on the Attending Staff in Internal Medicine at Suburban Hospital from July, 1953 to February, 1972. He was a member of various medical societies in the Washington, DC area.

He had many interests, including American antiques, philately and sailing; but his love of family was most important to him. He spent as much time as possible being involved in their activities and interests.

Dr. Coale spent many summers with his wife and sons at their cottage on Thompson Lake in Oxford, Maine. In 1972, they moved permanently to Winthrop, Maine and while there he joined the medical staff at the VA Hospital in Togas, Maine serving as Chief of Gastroenterology. He retired in 1980 and he and his wife, Mary, moved to Brunswick, Maine and then in 1988 to Yarmouth. Dr. Coale and Mary became actively involved in the antiques business, participating in many area antique shows. He attended the Tuttle Road Methodist Church.

He was married to Mary Horn Coale for 55 years. She predeceased him in 1997. He is survived by his three sons and their wives: Robert and Louise (Skillin) Coale of Yarmouth; William and Sharon (Smithey) Coale of Potomac, MD; John and Jill (Beaupre) Coale of Cumberland. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Rebecca (Coale) and Nathaniel Teti of Alexandria, VA; Johanna (Coale) and Ryan Coyle of West Chester, PA; Elizabeth (Coale) and Adam Rosen of New Canaan, CT; William and Raquel Coale of Rockville, MD; Brooke Coale and John Krapf of Kennett Square, PA; Brittany Coale of Stamford, CT and Megan Elizabeth Coale of Cumberland. He also leaves his six great-grandchildren: Matthew and Andrew Teti; W. Jacob Coyle; Ellen and Charles Rosen and Kaitlyn Coale.

A private spring burial service is planned. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Dr. Coale’s life and to share your condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

Donations may be made in Dr. Coale’s memory to: Tuttle Road United Methodist Church, 52 Tuttle Road, Cumberland, ME 04021 or Meals on Wheels, Southern Agency on Aging, 136 Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.