Alan H. Coogan

Alan H. Coogan, 93, of Kent, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, July 28, 2023. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on Dec 19, 1929 to the late Dorothy Amelia Baker and Francis Alan Coogan, Jr. He grew up in the San Francisco area and even swam across the Bay in his late teens!

Following high school, he attended the University of California-Berkeley where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree. He went on to be a Fulbright scholar in Vienna, Austria. During the Korean War, he was drafted into the United States Army, attended Army language school, and served as an interpreter for displaced persons after WW II in Vienna, Austria. After being honorably discharged, he returned to the States and earned a Master’s Degree and PhD in paleontology from the University of Illinois. He worked as a geologist focusing on subsurface exploration research for Shell and Humble Oil before becoming a geology professor at Kent State University where he taught from 1967 until his retirement in January 1999. While teaching at Kent State, he earned a J.D. from the University of Akron in 1978. He used his law degree to focus on Environmental law, mainly oil & gas related issues. He was instrumental in the oil & gas industry in Ohio & Pennsylvania and was called as an expert witness in countless lawsuits.

Following his retirement, he continued practicing law (into his late 80s!), taught himself a couple new languages, got his realtor's license, and was always reading something. Alan loved to learn and thoroughly enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. He was like a walking encyclopedia! He was always helping his kids with homework, telling stories of his adventures, identifying rocks (SO many rocks!!) when traveling with us, or just "talking shop" with anyone who would listen. He was a wonderful father and doting grandfather. He lit up any time any of his grandchildren came to visit.

Alan was preceded in death by Sylvia Coogan (ex-wife), and brother Robert Coogan. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Loretta Coogan, three sons—Daniel, Peter (Karla Armbruster) and Stephen (DeeDee), stepchildren Patricia (Donald) Nesbitt and Mark (Tatum) Heath, his 8 grandchildren, Lila Armbruster & Lucinda "Luka" Coogan, Lily & Sylvia Coogan, Katelyn (Francisco) Medina & Brandon Stephenson, and Sydney & Trinity Heath, as well as 3 great-grandsons.

In honoring his wishes, Alan will be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Services in care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.

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