Dr. Earle Fleming Cote

Dr. Earle Fleming Cote died peacefully on January 16, 2024, at home in Miami, FL.

Born in Bridgeport, CT on December 2, 1928, Earle was the son of George and Gertrude Cote. Earle attended Fairfield College Preparatory School, and he was part of the first fouryear graduating class in 1946. He graduated from St. Bonaventure College with a BS in 1950, earned his DDS from Georgetown in 1954, and graduated from Columbia’s Orthodontic Program in 1958.

As many “Georgetown boys” did, Earle married a “Trinity girl”, Mary Jane Schwab Cote, and they celebrated 63 years of marriage prior to her passing in 2019.

Earle is survived by his son, Guy Matthew Cote and his husband, Gilberto Rodriguez, and his daughter, Danielle Cote Loomis and her husband, Steve Loomis, and grandson, Leighton Loomis. Survivors in Earle’s immediate family also include his sister, Marilyn Cote Savard.

Earle began his orthodontic practice in Greenwich, CT in 1957. He was active in the country and state, becoming President of the Greenwich Dental Association in the ‘70s, President of the Northeaster Society of Orthodontists in the ‘80s, and then joined the College of Diplomats for the American Board of Orthodontists, where he then became President of the American Association of Orthodontists in the ‘90s. He is most proud of his helping grow the participation of boarded orthodontists from 17% to 25% in the US/Canada during his leadership.

Earle retired from orthodontics in 1998. He remained very close to his dedicated and tenured team, catching up and celebrating milestones and memories on multiple occasions each year, going virtual when he moved to Florida in 2023.

Earle was very active in Greenwich, serving on the board for St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, the Stanwich Club, and the YMCA, where he regularly ran and lifted weights before heading to his office on Dearfield Drive. Golf was his passion, from caddying early-on at Brooklawn to playing with the Musketeers and regional tournaments.

Many of Earle’s friends and family would classify him as the “toughest yet kindest” man they know. We will miss his bowties and colorful blazers; he often was applauded for being best dressed. He certainly enjoyed a microphone in the front of the room. And he would hope we’d all raise a glass or two of wine in the spirit of celebrating 95 brilliant years of a life welllived.