Obituary of Ross S. Coates

Ross S. Coates passed away peacefully at the age of 85 at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Monday, November 4, 2013. He was born in Amherst, NS on March 26, 1928 and was predeceased by his parents, Otto and Kathleen (Blenkhorn) Coates of Nappan, NS; as well as his sister, Pauline Coates-Smith of Richmond, VA. He is survived by his wife, Joan and two children, Steven (Joanne) of Rothesay, NB and Linda (David) of Wenatchee, WA; as well as three grandsons, Bradley of Seattle, WA, David of Halifax, NS and Michael of Quebec City, QC. Ross was the 6th generation on the family farm in Nappan, NS, which he left in 1948 to move to New York City. It was while he was there, he met Joan Lenney from Staten Island. They were married in 1951. Ross started his career with the Singer Sewing Machine Co. in New York, taking transportation courses in the evening. He moved to Montreal a few years later to work with Crane Limited where he acquired his interest in sales. Wishing to return to the Atlantic Provinces; Ross took a sales position with Feron Co. Ltd. in 1953, later becoming Branch Manager in Saint John and subsequently VP and General Manager in their Halifax head office. Ross and Joan founded Coates Distributors Ltd. in 1969, which distributed building materials to retailers in the Atlantic Provinces from Saint John. They operated a successful business for over 40 years, made possible by a wonderful team of staff members. Ross was also involved in the industry as an Associate Director of the Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association and a member of the National Dealers Association. He was very active in community projects and service club activities throughout his adult life. He liked to give 100% in whatever he was involved in and enjoyed the fellowship of being part of a team. He was a member of the Kennebecasis Lions Club and President of the Renforth Community Club. Ross was also involved with the United Way Campaigns and was a Division Chairman in the years 1986-8. He was on the Board of Governors for the Marco Polo Project and a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada in recognition of his years of service. He became very involved in Rotary and for many years was a member of the Rothesay Kings Club; as well as the Saint John Club, serving as President of each in the years 1980-1 and 1986-7 respectively. Ross was active in numerous Rotary projects in both clubs including Chairman of the fund-raising campaign for the Rotary Admiral Beatty Senior Citizens Complex, a Director of Rotary Senior Citizens Housing Ltd. and Vice Chairman of the Saint John Boys and Girls Club Endowment Fund. Ross was recognized with a Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary and later was appointed District Governor of Rotary International, District 7810 for the term 1991-2. Ross never lost his love of the land that he acquired as a boy. He purchased a farm in Bloomfield, NB where he raised Aberdeen Angus cattle and Norwegian Ford horses. In later years, after downsizing, Ross continued to enjoy gardening. He will be greatly missed, was hard-working and definitely "old school" in the best sense of the term. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff of Shannex Concorde Hall in Quispamsis and the staff of 4BN at the Saint John Regional Hospital for the exceptional care, attention and kindness shown towards him. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brenan's Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424). The memorial service will be held from Brenan’s Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, December 20, 2013, at 11:00 AM. Interment will take place in Amherst, NS For those who wish, remembrances made to the Saint John Boys and Girls Club, Saint David’s United Church, Rothesay or to any charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family.