Patrick Joseph Coan III

Patrick Joseph Coan III, of Beverly and formerly of Natick, passed away on March 8, 2026, following a long illness. Most recently a resident at Briarwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Facility in Needham, he was affectionately known as “The Mayor” for his friendly, outgoing personality.

A graduate of Harvard University, Patrick served as a First-Class Diver with the U.S. Navy Reserve. During the Vietnam War, he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force, where he worked with service members suffering from PTSD at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC, and at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. An avid scuba diver, he later volunteered with the Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, teaching wounded veterans how to dive. In his civilian life, he enjoyed diving for lobsters and often shared his catch with his nephews and niece when they were younger.

Patrick is survived by his wife, Julie Coan of Boston. He was the devoted son of the late Patrick Joseph Coan Jr. and Loretta (Smith) Coan of Natick. He leaves his sisters, Kathleen Coan Uek of Natick, and Frances O’Connell and her husband, Ted, of Los Angeles, California. He was predeceased by his sister, Priscilla Jay of Northborough. He also leaves his longtime friend from grade school, Bob Saum.

He was the beloved uncle of Joey Uek (Johanna), Lisa Outchcunis (Mickey), Ted (Nichole), Brendan (Esther), and Dan O’Connell (Susan), and Michael (Diane), Mark (Lesli), and Gary (Missy) Fratoni, and is survived by many great-nieces and great-nephews. In honor of his service and love for the ocean, some of his ashes will be committed to the sea by the U.S. Navy, with his family holding a private gathering to release the remainder.