John Michael William Coffey MD

JOHN MICHAEL WILLIAM COFFEY, MD, died peacefully April 18, 2018, ‘living warm’ in his sunny Albuquerque, NM.                  Fighter for Life!

Spouse! Father, Grandfather, Brother! Cousin, Uncle! Friend! John’s big presence is missed by many, from toddlers to elders, from students to patients, from the homeless to his family.

Born October 5, 1932 in Milwaukee, WI, John was a rascal as a St. Jude’s school (Wauwatosa, WI) student, but rode his bike to serve Mass daily for the Dominican sisters, stopping at the shrine to pray “Lord, let me love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt.”

Survivors are his loving spouse and friend, Kristine Julie (Albuquerque, NM & Brookfield, WI), and his super children of whom he was so proud: Kevin Michael & Julie Bowen Coffey (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), Christopher John, MD & Mary Ann Malloy Coffey (Marblehead, MA), Stephanie Piaskowski Coffey, (Grafton, WI), Brian Patrick Coffey, Patrick John & Patricia Brien Rieck (Shorewood, WI), Brian William Rieck & Yvonne Ng (Denver, CO), and Stacy Elizabeth & James William McCoy (Elm Grove, WI); his nifty grandchildren to whom he taught songs: Christopher Evan Coffey, Connor Malloy Coffey, Taylor Malloy Coffey, Kathleen Mary Coffey, Sarah Jane Coffey, Emily Rose Rieck, Josephine Harriet Rieck, Lane Evans Rieck, William James McCoy and Kai Chance Rieck; his dear siblings: Michael James & Christine Ann Coffey (Tampa, FL & Park City, UT) and Sylvia Ann Coffey & George Elliott (Des Moines, IA); and numerous Coffey cousins he enjoyed convening, nieces and nephews full of play, and extraordinary friends internationally, especially faithful Sylvia Anaya, Michael and Regina Hurley. John was preceded in death by his brother Thomas James Coffey and Rosemary Lovas Coffey.

Physician! Volunteer! Philanthropist! New Best Friend!

John frequented JUG (Justice under God) at Marquette University High School, flew through Marquette University, and moved with determination from Marquette Medical School into his mission of obstetrics and gynecology. He continued to be Board certified annually with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists until his death. John was a present member of the Medical Society of the state of Wisconsin, as well as a member of the American Medical Society on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies.

Serving as a Captain, John was on the Obstetrics-Gynecology Service at the United States Army Hospital, Sandia Base (now Kirtland AFB), Albuquerque, NM 1961-63. John received a special commendation for outstanding hospital ward and clinic functioning, initiative, skill, excellent patient rapport, professional ability and devotion to duty.

Bringing fun to his medical office, John had travel posters on the examining room ceiling in his Wauwatosa, WI practice, some of the years with his father, physician and surgeon, Sylvester Edwin Coffey, MD (Harriet O’Malia Coffey). As a Birthright supporter, John meaningfully served women at Misericordia House and the Indian Health Services; he liked their art work so much that it made it to the office ceiling, too.

Later John was Medical Director, DePaul Rehabilitation Hospital Impaired Professional Program, and then, Medical Director of the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse unit at Sinai Samaritan Medical Center in the inner city of Milwaukee, WI. John was Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, presenting many Grand Rounds presentations and working with inner city youth. He received the Diamond Award from United to Serve America.

John’s preferred giving was person-to-person, especially with ministries of Sr. Bernice Garcia, OP, like needing furnaces, refrigerators and more joint ventures. Their annual ‘date’ was to “Mariachi Christmas.” Everyone was his ‘new friend’ as he was interested in their story: waitresses, floor sweepers, flight attendants, nurses, aides, pan handlers, strangers.

Traveler! Lover of Languages! Story Teller! Humorist! Always a Song in His Heart!

John traveled to five continents, always communicating locally and often doing non-profit adventures. His delight with words and languages was part of his ‘scientia pro scientia’ approach. This hunger led him to the University of New Mexico senior program, taking all the courses he never had time for in college. John loved musical tunes being on all the time, now with Alexa helping; he was always found singing some tune or another, many learned with his father doing house calls together. And, his stories and jokes were infamous; John enjoyed a good laugh with others.

A parishioner at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Albuquerque, NM, John was also a member of St. Benedict the Moor parish, Milwaukee, WI, and a former member of the Dominican Aquinas Newman Center, Albuquerque, NM. He was a proud, involved member of the Foothills and Pass It On Clubs, as well as the Del Sol Rotary where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.

With heartfelt thanks to special therapists, Patrick, Karen, JJ, Brenna, Effie & Kerri, John will be remembered in prayer at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary parish, 5415 Fortuna NW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, on Sunday, April 29 with reception at 6:30 pm and after the Sunday Mass at 7 pm. Provincial Fr. James V. Marchionda, OP, presides, along with other Dominican, Norbertine and diocesan clergy.

In Wauwatosa, WI, the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Jude the Apostle parish (where John received the sacraments of initiation), 734 Glenview Av., on Saturday, May 12 at 11 am, with visitation at 10 am. Pastor Fr. Charles Conley presides, along with other Dominican, Jesuit and Capuchin clergy.

In lieu of flowers, please join our funding of what was important to John:

COFFEY D+E+I RELIGIOUS STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP FUND, through the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, 4333 Pan American Fwy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107, tax ID #85-0395583, https://www.thecatholicfoundation.org/giving/make-a-donation/donate/?designation=Coffey%20DEI%20Scholarship

COFFEY MIGRANT JUSTICE FUND, through Catholic Charities of Central New Mexico, 2010 Bridge Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, use memo field; tax ID # 85-0110070, www.ccasfnm.org

COFFEY GRADUATE SUPPORT PROGRAM for Nativity Jesuit Academy, 1515 S. 29th St., Milwaukee, WI 53215, use memo field; tax ID # 39-1741141, www.njms.org 

COFFEY GATHERING SPACE & APARTMENTS for the homeless at the St. Anthony Project with St. Benedict the Moor parish (where we were married in 1991), 1015 N. 9th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233, use memo field; tax ID # 38-1525161, www.capuchincommunityservices.org

Daniels Family Funeral Services, Albuquerque, is serving the family. www.danielsfuneral.com