Joseph R. Coyne

JOSEPH ROBERT COYNE Public Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Board Joseph R. Coyne, 83, a retired Public Affairs Officer of the Federal Reserve Board, passed away unexpectedly on September 4, 2011 while visiting his hometown of Scranton, PA for his 65th high school reunion. Mr. Coyne served as an officer of the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC from 1968 through his retirement in 1998. Prior to his service with the Board, he was a reporter for the Associated Press, working assignments in Washington, D.C., Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Harrisburg, PA. He began his journalist career as a reporter for the Binghamton Sun in 1953. Mr. Coyne married the late Louise Ann Blewitt on June 11, 1955. She preceded him in death in 1985. The couple had 5 sons, Patrick of Washington, D.C., Michael of Kingwood, Texas, Dennis of Gig Harbor, WA, Timothy of Winchester, VA, and Kevin of Rosemont, MD. He graduated from the University of Scranton in 1952, and received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Fordham University. He moved to the Washington area in 1959 and lived in the same home in Annandale from 1963 until his death. His work as a reporter for the Associated Press included covering Congress, the Treasury Department, and the riots in Washington following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. His coverage of the Gold Crisis in 1968 drew acclaim and caught the attention of the Federal reserve Board. He served a number of different Chairmen at the Federal Reserve Board, traveling with them on trips around the country and world, and dealing with the press. In retirement, he enjoyed swimming, bicycling, visiting his large family, and completing Samurai Sudukus. He was extremely active in his church, St. Michael Church in Annandale, serving as lector, usher, chairman of the Finance Committee, and founding member of the Knights of Columbus. His greatest passion was his family, which includes his five surviving sons and five surviving daughters-in-law, Nancy, Sandy, Emily, Beth and Elizabeth, 13 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held will at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA on September 8, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on September 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael Church in Annandale. Internment will follow the Mass at the Fairfax Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: Att: Major Gifts-Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17526 Baltimore MD 21298-8180 or SOME So Others Might Eat P.O. box 96325 Washington D.C. 20090-6325, some.org