NATICK: Richard Raymond Cotter, age 85, of Canterbury, CT, died on Christmas Eve at the Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, CT. He was the devoted husband of Nancy (Schuhle) Cotter with whom he shared 47 years of marriage.
Born, raised and educated in Natick, he was a son of the late Richard and Mary E. (Regan) Cotter. Richard was a graduate of Babson College and had also studied at Eureka College in Kansas. He had served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
Richard had been employed with the Raytheon Corporation at their Wayland and Norwood locations, and with the Incoterm Corporation in Northborough. A man with a natural ability to solve problems, he enjoyed many years as an administrator. After retirement he kept busy as a mutuals clerk at Rockingham Racetrack in Salem, NH. He also worked for a time with Budget Car Rental.
Prior to settling in Canterbury, the Cotters had lived in Stowe, MA and Manchester, NH. Richard was enthusiastic about home repairs and improvements, and invariably had a weekend project or two. He cared for his own vehicles and worked on “fixer uppers,” at one point even welding halves of different cars together. Sailing and boating were favorites, whether on a sunfish with the Sunfish Sailing Club or aboard the cabin cruiser he restored. Richard was a good bowler and better skier, and had played hockey in his younger days. Kind, generous, and forever ready with a helping hand, Richard had a wonderful sense of humor, a good sense of self, and a great love for his family and friends.
He is survived by Nancy; his daughter, Casey Cotter; his son, Toby Cotter; and his brothers, Robert Cotter of Hudson and John Cotter of Port Richey, FL. He was predeceased by his brother William.
His funeral will be in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common on Monday, January 4th at 1:00PM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit with Richard’s family beginning at 11:00AM. Donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter, 279 New Britain Road, Kensington, CT 06037. www.alzct.org.