Michael Joseph Cotter, age 57, of Ashland, formerly of Natick, a longtime buyer, died on Saturday evening, February 4, 2012, at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. He was the beloved husband of Jean M. (Arena) Cotter.
Born in Bangor, Maine, on August 3, 1954, he was a son of Dorothy M. (Harrigan) Cotter of Natick and the late Richard P. Cotter. He came to Natick as an infant and was a member of the Natick High School Class of 1972 until his sophomore year. He transferred to The Rivers School in Weston where he excelled in sports until he was stricken with Hodgkin’s disease. Surviving the illness, he was able to resume his work at Rivers and graduated in 1974.
Through his school years and after graduation, Michael worked at Wellesley College until accepting employment with Prime Computer. While working at Prime Computer he put himself through school at Newbury College. Throughout his career he worked his way up to become a procurement specialist. Michael enjoyed all his subsequent employments at Fidelity Investments, EMC2 and Acumentrics. He enjoyed his time as a charter member and president of the Toastmasters Club at Prime Computer, coaching and refereeing youth basketball for the Natick Recreation Department, and walking with the survivor’s group in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Mindful of his time with cancer as a teen, Michael was always willing take the time to mentor other youths diagnosed with the disease.
In addition to Jean and his mother, he is survived by five brothers and three sisters, Richard Cotter and his wife Karen of Holliston, James Cotter and his wife Patricia of NH, Kevin Cotter of Framingham, Joan Schultz and her husband William of Falmouth, Timothy Cotter of NH, Patricia Cotter of Natick, Kathryn Brown and her husband Michael of Natick, and Robert Cotter and his fiancé Jill of Ashland; his parents-in-law, James and Mary (McGrath) Arena of Natick; a Goddaughter, Katie Brown of CA; and many much loved nieces and nephews.
His funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, on Friday at 8:00a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Linus Church, 119 Hartford Street, Natick, at 9:00a.m. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, 4 – 7p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael’s memory to the Natick VNA, 209 W. Central St., Natick, or the Natick Service Council, 2 Webster St., Natick, MA 01760.