Richard E. Coburn Sr., 87, of East Hartford, died Sunday, (October 10, 2011) at home. Richard was born to Mary and Frank Coburn in Manchester, CT, one of nine siblings. He graduated from Manchester High School and Howell Cheney Technical School in 1941. During and after World War II, he served in the U.S. Maritime Service as an Ensign, as a Sergeant in the Army Field Artillery's Military Police, and in the Army Air Corps as Airman 1st Class, skippering 85 foot crash boats. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1953. He also attended Hastings College of Law, and Central Connecticut State University. He married Marie Norberg in 1957, and they moved to East Hartford in 1958, where they had five sons and a daughter. Richard was a long-time member of Plumber's Local 76. He was a social worker for the City of Hartford, and he taught at Prince Technical School in Hartford. After his retirement from plumbing, Richard joined the Peace Corps. He served in Ghana from 1989 to 1991. Richard leaves five children and five grandchildren: Peter & Ann Coburn and their sons Daniel and James of Old Lyme, Carol Coburn of East Hartford, Richard & Peg Coburn and their daughters Mary Kate, Grace and Christina of West Hartford, Stephen Coburn of East Hartford, and Daniel Coburn of Hartford. In addition to his wife Marie, he was predeceased by his son John Coburn and three grandchildren: Tammy, Christina and Richard Coburn. Richard is also survived by his brother John Coburn of Glastonbury and his sister, Sr. Ellen Marie Coburn of West Hartford.
Calling hours are on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 4:30-6 p.m. at Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home in East Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10 a.m. at St. Isaac Jogues Church. Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Burial will follow at St. Bridget Cemetery in Manchester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Isaac Jogues Food Pantry, 1 Community Street, East Hartford, CT 06108
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18