Alan Donald Coon, 70, of Rhinebeck
Alan Donald Coon, 70, a resident of Rhinebeck, N.Y., passed away Friday morning, Sept. 30, 2016, at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Donlon Coon; their daughter, Allyson Kaitlin (Coon) Traver, her husband John Andrew Traver; Alan’s son, Brian Michael Coon and his wife Rebecca Lynn (McCue) Coon; as well as numerous cousins and friends.
Born on Jan. 5, 1946, in Rhinebeck, N.Y., he was the son of the late Donald Norman and Harriet Rosalia (Tallmadge) Coon of Rhinecliff, N.Y.
After graduating Rhinebeck High School in 1964, Alan served his country as a U.S. Navy Seabee during the Vietnam War, completing three tours of duty from 1966-1971. When Alan returned from service, he came home to his beloved Rhinebeck and joined the workforce as a union plumber.
Alan married his wife, Patricia (Pat) Donlon of Staatsburg, N.Y., in 1981; they would have celebrated their 35th anniversary together on Oct. 24.
A medical miracle, Alan had two heart transplants, the first at Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1987, and the second at The Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn., in 1993.
Unable to continue his life’s work as a plumber, Alan turned his efforts to his genealogy, researching his family’s rich military history going back to the Revolutionary War. His research took him to cemeteries, libraries, and town halls across the Northeast and Alan became very knowledgeable on military stones, cemeteries, and history of the like.
Alan had many passions, including photography, working with his hands and creating useful items such as lamps and tables, and working beside his wife at area fiber festivals.
Alan was committed to serving both his country and local community. He was past co-chair of the Rhinebeck Town Cemetery Committee, Life Member and Historian of the American Legion Montgomery Post 429, Life Member and Adjutant of Fitzpatrick Chapman Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Past Secretary and Treasurer of the Columbia Mid-Hudson Chapter Sons of the American Revolution, and Past Member of the Sons of the Union Veterans.
He had been placing American flags for Memorial Day with a group of other dedicated members on our local veterans’ graves for going on 40 years. He repaired veterans’ markers, grave stones, and identified unmarked veterans’ graves. In 2000, Alan organized and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Civil War Statue in the Rhinebeck Cemetery with a rededication and re-enactment.
Alan was the key person instrumental in organizing, restoring, maintaining and relocating the Doughboy statue in the village of Rhinebeck to its current state and location. In addition, he also spearheaded the placement of monuments recognizing local veterans from all wars, all with funding he personally raised. He was in the midst of working on a plaque dedicated to recognizing Rhinebeck veterans of the Gulf War to present conflicts at the time of his passing.
In lieu of flowers, we ask memorial donations be made to the American Legion Post 429, 6331 Mill St., Rhinebeck, N.Y. 12572, in order to fully realize and complete Alan’s wish of recognizing our local veterans.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the Albany Medical Center CCU for all their compassion, comfort, and support.
Friends and family may call at Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, 51 W. Market St., Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, from 4 to 7 p.m. The funeral will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, with a procession to follow at Rhinebeck Cemetery, where Military Honors will be presented by American Legion Post 429 and the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.
To sign the online register, please visit dapsonchestney.com.