Alan (Al) F. Coates

7/25/26

Alan (Al) F. Coates, 95, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 25th surrounded by many family members. Al was born in Rome, NY on October 31, 1930 to the late Freda & Willis M. Coates.

Al grew up on a small farm in Camden, NY and loved riding horses. He graduated from Camden Central high school in 1948 where he was involved in many school activities and sports. He went on to graduate from Syracuse University School of Forestry and later enlisted in the USAF in 1953. He graduated as a radar navigator, bombardier and was assigned to the Strategic Command at Fairfield Air Force base in Spokane Washington. After serving in the USAF, he was a member of the 174th Fighter Wing of the NY Air National Guard stationed in Syracuse, NY. Following his military service, he worked at GE in heavy military. While still at GE he began selling mutual funds part time at night.

In October 1959 Al left GE and joined First Albany Corp., a small regional investment firm, where he served as manager of the Syracuse office, in addition to serving his own clients. Through various mergers he ultimately retired from Wells Fargo Advisors in 2013 finishing his 53-year investment career at age 82. Al worked in partnership with his daughter Liz and son Dan for decades and that was something he was proud of and grateful for. Al was an excellent athlete and enjoyed tennis, downhill skiing, and running. He loved to participate in local races with some of his children.

Al was predeceased by his parents Willis and Freda, his brother David, his son Tim, and his beloved wife of 56 years Ann (Connie) McCarthy Coates who died in 2010. He is survived by his wife Joan Marcoccia Coates, her three children Beth Ramsey (Steve), George Marcoccia (Christina), Meg Oates (Steve), his children Susan O’Neil (Mark), Elizabeth Besio (Frank), Cornelia Dungey (William), David, and A. Daniel (Eileen), his 9 grandchildren Beth (Bryan) Perry, Tim (Jess) Besio, Ellen, Katie, Grace & Will Dungey, Caroline, Christopher & Ben Coates and his one great grandchild Sophie Ann Besio, his sisters Sally Hartman of Fullerton, CA and Patricia Walmsley of Simpsonville, SC.

The family would like to thank Joan, her children and their spouses, and all his caregivers for their love and support over the years.

There will be no calling hours. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 4th 10 am at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Skaneateles, with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery. There will be a luncheon at Skaneateles Country Club following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Father Champlin’s Guardian Angel Society at 920 N. McBride St., Syracuse, NY 13208 or The Food Bank of CNY 7066 Interstate Island Rd. Syracuse, NY 13209.

To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.