Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com>
on 22/Dec/2023
71.223.152.28
Russell Coughlin, 81, of New Paltz, NY passed away on
December 16, 2023 after a short battle with cancer. Russell
was born July 25, 1942 in Queens, NY. He was the son of the
late Russell T. and Mary Coughlin. In June of 1968, Russell
married Bette Sweeting at Mount Carmel church in
Poughkeepsie, NY. A month later, he was drafted to the Navy
and served as a journalist in Saigon during the Vietnam War.
This past June, they celebrated 55 years of marriage with
family by their side. After graduation from Wantagh High
School in 1960 he went on to study at Orange County
Community College and earned his Bachelor's degree from SUNY
Geneseo. Russell dedicated 36 years to the Newburgh Enlarged
City School District as a high school English teacher at
Newburgh Free Academy. Russell was also a lifetime union
activist for the Newburgh Teachers' Association serving as
Head Delegate at NFA for many years. He also served as a
Trustee on the Board of Directors for the NTA. After
retiring from NFA, he served as the Trust Fund administrator
until his retirement in 2021. Through his time in Newburgh,
he built lifelong friendships. Russell loved to travel with
Bette and while cruising was their favorite thing to do,
they also traveled to the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Vietnam,
and even through the Panama Canal. Two of his favorite
places to visit via Amtrak were New Orleans and Montreal for
Mardi Gras and New Year's Eve. He is survived by his loving
wife Bette Coughlin and his two daughters Heather (Philipp)
Kraus of New Paltz, NY, and April Coughlin (John Brayer) of
Albany, NY and his sisters Maureen Beaulieu and Cathleen
Coughlin (Harry Campbell). Russell is also survived by his
grandchildren, Ryan and Izzy Kraus of New Paltz, NY, and
Langston Brayer of Albany, NY, and many other friends and
relatives. He is predeceased by his brother Arthur Coughlin.
Calling hours will be held from 3:00pm-6:00pm on Thursday,
December 21st 2023 at the Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home
located at 162 S. Putt Corners Road in New Paltz. There will
be a Funeral Service the same day at the funeral home
starting at 5:30pm. We would like to ask that those who
attend the wake honor Russell by wearing blue and/or gold to
represent his love for Newburgh Free Academy and the
district as a whole. In lieu of flowers, the family would
like to start the "Russell Coughlin NFA Journalism Award"
for a Newburgh Free Academy senior planning to pursue a
career in English with a focus on Journalism. Donations can
be sent to https://gofund.me/29482aed
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of
Russell, please visit our floral store.
Russell Coughlin, 81, of New Paltz, NY passed away on
December 16, 2023 after a short battle with cancer. Russell
was born July 25, 1942 in Queens, NY. He was the son of the
late Russell T. and Mary Coughlin. In June of 1968, Russell
married Bette Sweeting at Mount Carmel church in
Poughkeepsie, NY. A month later, he was drafted to the Navy
and served as a journalist in Saigon during the Vietnam War.
This past June, they celebrated 55 years of marriage with
family by their side. After graduation from Wantagh High
School in 1960 he went on to study at Orange County
Community College and earned his Bachelor's degree from SUNY
Geneseo. Russell dedicated 36 years to the Newburgh Enlarged
City School District as a high school English teacher at
Newburgh Free Academy. Russell was also a lifetime union
activist for the Newburgh Teachers' Association serving as
Head Delegate at NFA for many years. He also served as a
Trustee on the Board of Directors for the NTA. After
retiring from NFA, he served as the Trust Fund administrator
until his retirement in 2021. Through his time in Newburgh,
he built lifelong friendships. Russell loved to travel with
Bette and while cruising was their favorite thing to do,
they also traveled to the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Vietnam,
and even through the Panama Canal. Two of his favorite
places to visit via Amtrak were New Orleans and Montreal for
Mardi Gras and New Year's Eve. He is survived by his loving
wife Bette Coughlin and his two daughters Heather (Philipp)
Kraus of New Paltz, NY, and April Coughlin (John Brayer) of
Albany, NY and his sisters Maureen Beaulieu and Cathleen
Coughlin (Harry Campbell). Russell is also survived by his
grandchildren, Ryan and Izzy Kraus of New Paltz, NY, and
Langston Brayer of Albany, NY, and many other friends and
relatives. He is predeceased by his brother Arthur Coughlin.
Calling hours will be held from 3:00pm-6:00pm on Thursday,
December 21st 2023 at the Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home
located at 162 S. Putt Corners Road in New Paltz. There will
be a Funeral Service the same day at the funeral home
starting at 5:30pm. We would like to ask that those who
attend the wake honor Russell by wearing blue and/or gold to
represent his love for Newburgh Free Academy and the
district as a whole. In lieu of flowers, the family would
like to start the "Russell Coughlin NFA Journalism Award"
for a Newburgh Free Academy senior planning to pursue a
career in English with a focus on Journalism. Donations can
be sent to 