William Coate

William Bleecker Coate, 91, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 at Vicars Landing, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The cause of death was cancer. He was predeceased by his mother, Margaret Bleecker Coate and his father, Roland Eli Coate. His father was a noted architect in Pasadena and Los Angeles, Calif.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Mary Louise (Cayey) Coate and their two children Eric William Coate (Georgianna Delacore) of Saranac, N.Y., and Kristen Coate Ely (William) of Ponte Vedra Beach. Additionally, he is survived by his brothers, Bartlett Bailey (Isabelle) of Elizabethtown, N.Y., Roland E. Coate, Jr. of Venice, Calif.; and a sister, Suzanne Coate Alden (Holt) of Napa, Calif., as well as eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was born Sept. 23, 1921, in Pasadena, Calif., attended the California Polytechnic School and graduated from the Catalina Island School for Boys. His undergraduate education at Cornell University was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. After the war, he returned to Cornell, earning a Ph.D. in experimental psychology. He began his professional academic career teaching at Harpur College, now SUNY Binghamton, and soon after moved to Wellesley College in Mass.

In 1963, interest in pursuing behavioral research on a full-time basis led to leaving academic life behind and a move to Hazleton Laboratories, Vienna, Va. Bill retired from Hazleton Labs in 1983.

Bill resumed, with enthusiasm, his Southern California childhood interest in tennis after relocating to Florida in 1985. He played frequently, competing and often winning matches into his late 80s. Bill was a member of Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Windsor Health Center at Vicars Landing and the staff at Community Hospice for their outstanding care of and kindness to Bill during his final months.

At Bill"s request, the family is mourning in private. If you wish, remembrances in his memory may be directed to the Vicars Landing Student Scholarship Fund, 1000 Vicars Landing Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

Please visit our online Tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com. Services under the direction and care of Quinn-Shalz, A Family Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.