Richard Thomas Coburn, Ph.D. (1935 – 2018)

Dr. Richard Thomas Coburn of Langhorne, PA, formerly of Newtown, CT, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.  Richard was born October 25, 1935 in Bridgeport, CT, the son of the late Victor and Florence (Whelan) Coburn.

Richard was the beloved husband of Jeanette A. (Boscaini) Coburn of sixty years and the loving father of Laura Lee Swope and Angela May Evagash.  He will be deeply missed by his family including three grandchildren Natalie Swope, Ryan Swope, and T. J. Evagash; sister Jacqueline (Whelan) Denton and her husband Frank; son-in-laws Guy Swope and Tom Evagash; sister-in-law Elaine Edgerton and brother-in-law Secondo Gori, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was predeceased by his sister-in-law Dolores Gori and brother-in-law George Edgerton.

Richard graduated in 1954 from Bassick High School in Bridgeport, CT and was a member of the National Honor Society.   He did undergraduate study at the University of Connecticut, was a member of the educational honor society, and graduated cum laude in 1958.  He received a Master of Science degree in education from the University of Bridgeport in 1959 and attended Fairfield University’s Graduate school to study secondary school administration.   With inspiration from reading literature pertaining to the American Civil War, he completed a Doctoral Dissertation on John William DeForest, an Authentic American Regionalist, and earned a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in English from the University of Connecticut in 1975.

Both Richard and Jeanette grew up in Bridgeport; and after their marriage, they built their home  in Newtown, CT and resided there  for 44 years.   Dr. Coburn, often referred to as "Doc," taught English at Harding and Trumbull High Schools.  He enjoyed teaching at the high school level sharing "a good outlook on life" with his students.  Dr. Coburn was a professor at Sacred Heart University instructing English Composition, American Literature, and History of the English Language.   He was also a qualified educator in Latin and History.   Richard served as a Representative for the Trumbull Teacher's Association and as adviser for the National Honor Society, Yearbook and Chess clubs.  

Richard participated in many town activities during his residency in Newtown including Chairman of the Newtown Board of Ethics, Democratic Town Committee, leader of the Indian Princesses father/daughter club, coach for park and rec girls' softball teams, and a member of St. Rose theatrical group.  Richard and his wife moved three years ago to the Villages of Flowers Mill retirement community in Langhorne, PA.   He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown, CT and St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Holland, PA.   

Richard enjoyed spending time with his family, making friends through conversation, collecting model soldiers, traveling, saying a special “toast” at family gatherings, and relaxing with a good book or classic movie.  Richard had a special gift for enriching the lives he touched and enhancing the lives of those he educated.   His eternal optimism will always be remembered with a favorite quote, “as you travel through life, whatever your goal, keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.”  Always positive, caring, and supportive; he will be forever in our hearts. 

Relatives, friends, colleagues, and former students are invited to attend his funeral mass at 11am on the 24^th day of March 2018 in St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation, P.O. Box 871847, Kansas City, MO  64187-1847.