Howard C Coan

He is survived by his wife Suzanne and son James.

An avid New York Giants football fan, he wrote a young adult book entitled Great Pass Catchers in Pro Football. He also enjoyed following the news on TV and in the papers.

Howard was a devoted family man, attending all of his son’s sports and scholastic competitions.

His career included two roles: he sometimes worked as a journalist, and at other times he was a public affairs officer providing information for journalists. Trained as a journalist, he worked for a variety of newspapers and magazines, including the Hartford Courant, American Banker, and what is now the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Howard spent over 30 years working for the federal government, most recently as a public affairs officer for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He also worked for other federal agencies including the Department of Transportation, Voice of America, and General Services Administration. He won awards for his press releases.

He was born on March 1, 1940 in New York City to the late Shirley and late George Coan, and he spent his teenage years in Mamaroneck, New York. His sister Barbara predeceased him. He was especially close to his niece Ellen, and her daughters Tara, Leah, and Carly. He received his bachelor's degree from Cornell in Industrial and Labor Relations, a master's in journalism from Columbia University, and a master's in Urban Affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During his time in Milwaukee, he met his wife, whom he married in 1973.