Dr. Dennis Coughlin, Jr., passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2009, at his Knoxville home with his family at his bedside. Born June 1, 1927, he was the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Coughlin, Sr.

A native of Knoxville and a 1945 graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School, he was a strong supporter of the school and attended all of his class reunions including the most recent 60 year reunion held in 2005. He attended the New York State Maritime Academy from 1945 to 1947. He returned to Knoxville and attended the University of Tennessee and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Graduating from UT Medical School in 1953 he interned at Knoxville General for 1 year. He then served for 2 years as Lieutenant Orthopedic Surgeon in the U.S. Navy at the Navy Hospital in Corona, CA., where he met his wife, Ruth Cathcart, who was a Lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corps. They married in 1958.

He went on to complete a 3 year residency in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. In 1961, he returned to Knoxville and continued as an orthopedic surgeon in private practice as a partner of The East Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic for 40 years. He retired in 2001.

He was active within the UT Alumni Association and served as President of the UT Development Council from 1985 to 1987. He founded the Coughlin Symposium at the UT Veterinary School on behalf of his father, Dr. Dennis Coughlin, Sr., a veterinarian for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a member of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and President of the American Fracture Association from 1990 to 1991. He was a member of the National Lamplighters Association, a nationwide group of orthopedists that meet annually to enhance the expertise, knowledge, and skills of orthopedic surgery. He was a member of Sacred Heart Cathedral and a member of Cherokee Country Club.

As an avid snow skier, he considered Breckenridge, CO. as his second home. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed family and life and will be dearly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren and many wonderful friends who enriched his life and affectionately called him Doc.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Dennis Coughlin, Sr.; and mother, Esther Brackin Coughlin. He is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Ruth Cathcart Coughlin; son, Dennis Coughlin III and wife, Kim; son, Mark Coughlin ; daughter, Annemarie Coughlin Gray and husband, Michael; son, Steven Coughlin and wife, Lynn; daughter, Mary Louise Coughlin Dubay and husband, Duane; grandchildren, Hannah and Dennis Coughlin IV, Megan, Will and John McClamroch, and Mary Lindley Gray; and brother-in-law, Thomas Cathcart and wife, Mina.

The Coughlin family would like to give special thanks to the devoted team of doctors especially Drs. William Muse, J. Sam Marcy and Kenneth Christenberry, our day and nighttime caregivers, and our Hospice team of professionals.

The funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at Sacred Heart Cathedral with Father T. Allen Humbrecht presiding. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to The Wellness Community, 702 Lindsay Place, Knoxville, TN. 37919; Knoxville Catholic High School, 9245 Fox Lonas Road, Knoxville, TN. 37923; and The Legacy Brain Foundation, 1325 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 120, Fort Worth, TX. 76104. The family will receive friends from 5-7 P.M. Wednesday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

Source:  Knoxville News Sentinel, February 3, 2009