Obituary of Richard Coll

OBITUARY Richard Coll, Ph.D. Renaissance Man Dr. Richard Coll, 66, of Plainfield died Monday of complications related to Waldenstroms Macroglobulalinemia. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2004 at 11 a.m. Dr. Coll was the beloved husband of Joan for 43 years and father of three. Born in Manhattan, a resident of Fanwood and Plainfield for 32 years, Richard found joy in his family and was known to all for his youthful spirit and limitless generosity. Since 1971, Dr. Coll was a respected university professor with a concentration in computer science. He joined the faculty at Seton Hall, St. Peters, Fordham and NJIT. Richard was as passionate about teaching as he was about learning. An inveterate student, he received his BS in Physics from Fordham in 1958, his MS in Industrial Engineering from the University of South Florida in 1973, and received his MA and doctorate in Psychology from Rutgers, Newark in 1985. Richard lived his life from a place of abundance and his good nature and zest for living were infectious. He avidly pursued his lifelong interests of competitive fencing, ballroom dancing and cherished vacations that enhanced familial bonding. His appreciation of the arts made him a passionate patron of theatre and opera. In addition, he had a love of fine dining. Cafes Des Artistes ranked among his personal favorites, where he delighted in its romantic murals while savoring quail eggs at the bar. Richard had a voracious appetite for knowledge. The model do it yourselfer/jack of all trades, there was nothing he could not fix nor situation he could not handle. Staying true to his lifelong motto a sound mind and a sound body Richard was a model for healthful living. He was a source of encouragement and the patriarch of the Coll family. Richard was a man who gave generously of himself and was always sympathetic and understanding of the needs of others. Both inspiring and uplifting, he encouraged his family and those he touched to excel. He was a compassionate proprietor of residential units in several states. His good nature enabled him to always lend a hand with a smile. Dr. Richard Coll is survived by his loving wife Dr. Joan (nee Hannigan) Coll, daughters Catherine-Antoinette, Stacey-Jo and son John-Peter (Jay); mother-in-law Josephine Hannigan, sisters Ashley Coll, Marjorie Coll Prepon, and bother Dr. Samuel Hoisington, nine grandchildren and a host of additional loved ones, relatives and friends. The viewing is scheduled for Friday, January 2, between the hours of 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 209 West 8th Street, Plainfield. The memorial service will be on Saturday, January 3 at 11 am. in the funeral home. Burial at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the International Waldenstroms Macroglobulalinemia Foundation. Please address donations in Dr. Richard Colls name to the following address: International Waldenstroms Macroglobulalinemia Foundation 3932D Swift Road Sarasota, FL 34231-6541 (www.iwmf.com)