PASSING OF LONGTIME ROTARIAN AND PAST PRESIDENT (81-82) DONALD C. COEN

Donald Carlton Coen, age 80, died at home on the evening of May 13, 2017. He was born in Canton, Ohio on October 31, 1936 to Anna Gail and Carlton Coen. Don graduated from Canton Lehman High School and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served the U.S. Army for 4 ½ years in Hawaii where he was responsible for mapping the Hawaiian Islands, resigning his captain’s commission in 1963 to join his father at the Coen Oil Company in Canton.

Don always felt best when he was, in his words, “making a positive difference in the lives of others.” He dedicated much of his boundless energy to the Canton community, serving Church of the Savior United Methodist as lay leader, Fine Arts Community Evangelism treasurer, Malone College advisory board chair and annual fund drive general chair, Greater Canton Chamber of Commerce chair, Downtown Canton Association board, YMCA of Greater Stark County assistant treasurer, Heritage Club member, Camp Tippecanoe board and Corporate Cup committee, Palace Theatre vice president, United Way of Central Stark County board, Rotary Club of Canton president and Rotary Exchange Student chair, United Arts Fund campaign division chair, Akron/Canton Sales and Marketing Executives president, Gyro Club president, Canton Housing Improvement Program board, Private Industry Council member, Canton Job Service Employer committee, Friends of the Stark County District Library co-founder, Family Services of Stark County board and Calvary Mission board.

Don loved playing and sledding with his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as windsurfing, running and riding rollercoasters. Each year he looked forward to sailing the Chesapeake Bay with his cherished brother-in-law, John Gremer, and attending the Indianapolis 500. His Coen Oil fellow employees and their loyalty always remained uppermost in his memories. 

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeannie, of 58 years; daughters, Patricia Coen of Canton and Karen Flynn of Cleveland Heights; sons, Douglas (Rita) Coen of Canton and David (Kathy) Coen of Jamaica Plain, MA; sister, Janet (John) Gremer of Hayes, VA; brothers, Edward Coen and Robert Coen of Canton; Rotary Exchange student son, David Roberts of North Canton; grandchildren, Adrianna (Taylor) Trubisky, Courtney (Adam) Carrick, Matthew Farmer Jr. and Morgan Coen of Canton, Colter Flynn and Sophia Flynn of Cleveland Heights, Benjamin Coen and Elspeth Coen of Jamaica Plain.

Interment with military honors and graveside service officiated by the Reverend Edward Fashbaugh of Crossroads United Methodist Church will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at North Lawn Cemetery, 4927 Cleveland Ave NW.

**A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on July 1 at Crossroads UMC, 120 Cleveland Ave. SW, downtown Canton. The family will receive guest following the service. 

Memorial donations may be made to Crossroads UMC, 120 Cleveland Ave. SW, Canton OH 44702; Rotary Club of Canton, 116 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton 44702; Canton Ballet, Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton 44702.