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by Susan Roberts
Thomas Coffee was born in
Eddystone, Canada, in 1885. His family moved to the United States a few years
later.
Coffee attended Syracuse
University, where he was active in crew and on the debating team. He graduated
in 1911 as an education major.
During his early years as an
educator, Coffee worked in several different communities. Between 1911 and 1925
he taught history at Albion High School and Dolgeville High School and was
principal of Wyoming High School, Greigsville High School and Cazenovia
Seminary.
In 1925 he was appointed
superintendent of the Fairport (NY) schools. It was a perfect match - he
remained superintendent for 26 years.
Coffee was quickly involved
in the local schools. Leon Warner, Class of '26, said, "The seniors (Class
of '26) soon learned to respect and appreciate (Coffee's) wit, diplomacy, and
sense of justice. He took the class to Washington, Philadelphia, and Atlantic
City; helped form the first yearbook, The Hour Glass; and started the first
school paper, "School Chatter". In one year, we grew to feel that he
was our staunch supporter and friend."
Coffee's involvement was not
limited to school. When he and his wife, Lydia Tyler Coffee, moved to Fairport
with their three daughters, they became part of the community. Coffee was a
charter member of the Fairport Rotary Club and was club president 1928. He was
an active Mason and was master of the local lodge in 1944. He was a member of
the First Congregational Church, where he was superintendent of the Sunday
School, a member of the board of deacons, and taught an adult Bible class. He
was a member of the executive committee for the west central zone of the New
York State Teacher's Association. He was a member of the local Selective
Service Board during World War II.
Coffee was honored for 25
years of service during the 1950 commencement ceremonies. He was lauded by
students, parents and teachers. The Class of '26, his first graduating class,
held a reception for him, which was attended by many faculty members from his
early years in Fairport.
In 1951, Thomas Coffee
retired as a superintendent. He returned to teaching. He began teaching
business administration at St. John Fisher College. He also spent more time
gardening and traveling - one daughter lived in California. He became
interested in local politics and ran for town supervisor in 1956.
Coffee retired from St. John
Fisher in 1958, after suffering a stroke. A few months later, July 2, 1958, he
had a heart attack while working in his garden and died. He was 72.
--------------------
Newspaper editorial published
c. July 10, 1958 upon the death of Thomas Coffee:
A Cause for Mourning
The community lost one of
its finest citizens last week as Thomas G. Coffee completed his span on earth;
a span filled with both triumphs and heartaches and a life dedicated to the
welfare of this town.
Tom Coffee will be
remembered for many things as he was a man of many parts. As an educator, he
was a devoted servant of young people. Many students determined to "chuck
it all and go to work" were deterred by the friendly counsel and interest
of Tom Coffee, teacher and school superintendent. The successes of many of
these young people in after life was always a source of great satisfaction to
him.
Tom was democratic by nature
and Democratic by conviction. A keen student of politics, he was a firm
believer in fair play and the occasional new broom. Tom's personal effort and
door to door canvass made possible the election of the Citizen-Democratic party
in the last mayoralty election. Citizens of all political faiths had confidence
in his judgments and the accuracy of his facts. The conduct of affairs by the
present village administration is a worthy confirmation of the convictions he
so ably sold.
But perhaps the greatest
attribute was in his role as ordinary citizen, as husband and father, and
friend and fellow villager. Tom served on anything he was asked to and
discharged his tasks without fanfare. Even in adversity, he never lost his
priceless sense of humor, nor bore he malice for anyone. He had a philosophy of
life that all should strive to emulate. Optimistic, sprightly and devoted, he
lived his life to the fullest, making friends wherever he went.
The community will long
mourn Tom Coffee. As the kids he loved so well would say, he indeed was
"the greatest".