Obituary of David H. Coe

Trumbull Resident David Hubbard Coe, age 79, of Trumbull, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, March 8th. Born on May 15th, 1932 in the small town of Bainbridge, New York, he lived a full life. Growing up in Bainbridge, Dave enjoyed building and tinkering with things throughout his youth. He excelled at school, graduating with salutatorian honors, so it was no surprise that he was accepted and attended the engineering school at Cornell University. While in school Dave joined the ROTC and upon completion of his Electrical Engineering degree he served in the US Army signal core. Once discharged, he went to work as an engineer for RCA Corporation in New Jersey and met his future wife, Clare Garnsey. His greatest interest at the time was in the emerging Cable Television technology. A pioneer in the industry, he started a side project in this area during the sixties. Working with his father Oris and mother Mildred, he brought cable TV to his small town by erecting a tower on the tallest hill and running cable to the town residents so they could enjoy television signals from surrounding cities. He grew the business to include another local town and ran it for many years, eventually selling it to Time Warner Cable. A consummate family man, Dave married Clare in 1960. He and his new bride relocated to Bristol, Connecticut when he was offered a new position with Bendix and started their new family with the arrival of two sons, Jeffrey and Brian. Dave followed a new position with a start-up company in Rochester, New York in 1968 and daughter Peggy followed shortly after. An exciting job offer to develop the new Valley Cable of Seymour, CT brought the Coe family back to Connecticut in 1970 where they settled for good in Trumbull. He was self employed as a consultant in the Cable TV industry for the remainder of his professional career. Dave had many interests and enjoyed traveling as well as building and fixing things. He was a Deacon with the Trumbull Congregational Church, worked with the Boy Scouts, and very much enjoyed singing with the local Coastal Chordsmen group. His primary interest was spending time with his family, all of whom reside in Connecticut and will greatly miss his smiling face and kind demeanor. Dave is survived by his wife of 51 years, Clare, son Jeffrey Coe and wife Sheryl of Trumbull, son Brian Coe and partner Donna Giuffrida of Hebron, daughter Peggy Coe and partner John Setaro of Guilford, seven grandchildren, Lauren, Timothy, Gregory, Molly, Austin, Julia, and Alexis, and his sister Cynthia and husband Bill Betts of Earlville, New York, a nephew Scott Betts and wife Yvonne of Hamilton, NY and a niece Susan Trueworthy and husband Tim of Hamilton, NY. Funeral Information There will be no visiting hours. The family will hold a private memorial service in upstate New York at a later date. Thoughts and prayers are always appreciated. Donations Information Those choosing to celebrate Daves life and interests are asked to donate to the Coastal Chordsmen c/o Roger Klinger, Esq. 244 Bridgeport Ave, Milford, CT, 06460.