Bernard Thomas Cotter

May 20, 1932 - December 8, 2022

Bernard Thomas Cotter (Bernie}, aged 90 of Burlingame, passed away peacefully in the hospital surrounded by his loving wife Anne and family on December 8, 2022.

Bernie was born on May 20, 1932 in the Bronx to Mary Ann (Molly} O’Connell of County Kerry and Thomas P. Cotter of County Tipperary, Ireland. Bernie had two younger brothers, Thomas and Kevin who preceded him in death.

In 1935 the family moved to San Francisco and settled in St. Mary’s Park. Bernie attended St. Paul’s Grammar School, St. James High School and finished in the first graduating Class of Riordan High School, Class of 1950. He then attended Santa Clara University and finished at the University of San Francisco where he also went on to get his law degree.

Bernie met the love of his life, Anne Girot Marr, when they both appeared together in a high school play. They were married in 1956. Bernie and Anne settled in Westlake, Daly City before moving to Burlingame and becoming active members of Our Lady of Angels Parish.

Sixty-six years of marriage were blessed by 6 children, 19 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren: Joan (Gregory Cattermole}: Kyle (Alexis} sons James and Carter; Drew (Beth} and Mikey (Caity)Barbara (Matt Goldman}: Dean and Eric Dan (Lynda Cotter}: Kirsten, Natalie and Ian Bill (Linda Cotter}: Anna and her daughter Ava, Liam and Jane Tom (May Carole Cotter}: Courtney, Danny, Allie and Will Lynn (Chris Guslani}: Ben, Lucas, Joey and Kelly.

Bernie was a proud member of the San Mateo Legal Community and helped establish the law firm now known as McDowall Cotter.

In 2004,he was the recipient of the Nagle award for service to the San Mateo County Bar Association. In 2007,The San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association named him George M. Corey Trial Lawyer of the year. In 2018, he received a special lifetime achievement award from the San Mateo County Bar Association.

In the present days of mediation, he had the remarkable feat of bringing more than 130 jury trials to verdict. He was a proud diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) who awarded him LEGEND status in 2016. Bernie also served as a Mediator I Arbitrator I Judge Pro Tern for many years.

Bernie loved being the Editor and photographer of the Docket, a San Mateo County Bar magazine. He contributed countless articles to the magazine, many of them on his passion for hiking. It can now be revealed that he submitted these articles under the pen name of Siap Lamat (Tamalpais spelled backwards).

Besides being an avid hiker, he loved to fish, garden, golf, canoe the Russian River and spoil his grandchildren.

Bernie will always be remembered for his friendliness, generosity, and making everyone feel welcome with a joke and a smile. He loved his many friends and colleagues and loved to reach out whether they be in Ireland, San Francisco, Burlingame, at the pub, or at Sunday Mass. He especially cherished his friendships with the Catholic clergy and Capuchin priests of OLA.

“The mountains are calling and I must go...” - John Muir

Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral mass at Our Lady of Angels Church located at 1721 Hillside Drive, Burlingame, on Tues. December 27, 2022 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, and if you are so inclined, please consider a donation to the Capuchin Franciscans at www.olacapuchins.org