Paul Stephan Coggin, 45, a resident of East Norwalk, CT since 1995, died suddenly on Saturday, May 5, 2012. He was the beloved husband of Yulia (Daineko) Coggin and loving father of Makarios Robert Coggin.
Born in Boston on May 27, 1966, he was a son of the late Robert R. and Themis (Zannetos) Coggin.
Paul grew up in Franklin and graduated from Franklin High School in 1984. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1989, a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering from University of California Davis in 1991 and a Master of Public and Private Management (MBA) Degree from Yale University in 1995. Paul became a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1995.
Paul and Yulia met in Kiev, Ukraine on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. on a beautiful summer day. They will never forget that meeting. They knew immediately of the gift they found in each other. They fell in love and their love will live forever! They got married in St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in Kiev, Ukraine on September 28, 2007.
Paul was currently a principal consultant at Wipro Technologies in New York City and had formerly worked at Cognizant Technology Solutions and Oracle Corporation. He was a founding partner of Compass Consulting and was previously an executive at the Nielsen Company, Sagemaker, Inc., Pfizer, Inc. and Merck-Medco.
Active in local politics, Paul was elected and served on the Third Taxing District Commission from 2001-2007 and was a member of the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee. He also was an Advocate for the East Norwalk Library Renovation. He volunteered for many local events and festivals during his seventeen years in East Norwalk.
A certified and accomplished pilot, Paul was a member of the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association and also achieved Sea Plane Certification.
Paul enjoyed gardening and doing home improvements. He loved many outdoor activities especially fishing, hiking and scuba diving and was a member of the NRA.
Paul was very passionate about his Cypriot heritage and his wife’s Ukrainian heritage and it was important for him to honor the many traditions of each. He also was incredibly passionate about family.
Besides his wife and son, he is survived by two brothers, Mark Coggin and his wife Johnna of Westborough and Michael Coggin and his wife Janice of Boston, two nephews, Nicholas and Alexander Coggin and his niece Kyra Eleni Coggin.
He is also survived by aunts, uncles and many cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Service on Friday, May 11 at St. Gregory the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church, 1007 West St. in Mansfield at 9 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Franklin.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m. in the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St. in Franklin.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Paul’s memory to the Makarios R. Coggin Education Fund c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 1 Cemetery St., Norwalk, CT 06855.