Cotell, Colonel Robert Joseph USA, entered into eternal life Tuesday evening, 6 January 2015. Robert (Bob) was born in Winchester, Massachusetts on 31 January 1962. He grew up in Wellesley and considered himself a native son of the town. He spent the summers and most weekends throughout the years of his youth in West Yarmouth on Cape Cod where his father grew up and where his bloodlines run deep – extending back to the time of the American Revolution. Bob attended grammar school at St Paul Catholic School in Wellesley and then attended Boston College High School. During his formative years, Bob’s character was substantially molded through his participation in the Boy Scouting program. Bob was a dedicated and successful scout, rising to the rank of Eagle while holding all major leadership positions in Troop 186 of Wellesley. Along the way, Bob spent seven years working for the Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rockville Rhode Island as a summer camp counselor and Camp Director.
After high school, Bob earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Northeastern University. It was there that Bob began his long career with the US Army by enlisting as a cadet in the ROTC program. After Northeastern, Bob enrolled in law school at Suffolk University where, upon graduation, he became a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer in the US Army. Bob spent twenty-six years serving his country on active duty as a JAG officer with assignments beginning with West Point, New York and including Yong San, Korea; Heidelberg, Germany; Livorno, Italy; Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Knox, KY; Fort Detrick, MD; Fort Belvoir, VA and the Pentagon. Bob served as the Chief Legal Counsel to the Joint Task Force – Olympics in Salt Lake during the highly sensitive mission to secure the Olympic Games in 2002. This was one of the first high-profile international events hosted by the United States following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Bob also served a combat deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was stationed at Bagram Airfield supporting the mission of the XVIII Airborne Corps. Bob remained on active duty with the army right up until his death. He earned myriad awards and decorations during his time of service including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.
Bob’s service to his country, his dedication to his faith and his family and the courage he showed in facing his cancer are an inspiring example to all who witnessed them. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Irene Cotell as well as an aunt Catherine Browne and a niece Rebecca Cotell. He leaves behind a sister, Catherine Cotell of Alexandria Virginia; a brother, Richard and his wife Jennifer Cotell of Needham; another brother, Daniel and his wife Elizabeth Cotell of Lexington, NC; an uncle and aunt, Gerald and Barbara Browne of Marlborough; an uncle, Rev Robert Browne of Marlborough; a niece, Jillian Cotell of Needham and a niece and nephew, Sarah and Peter Cotell of Lexington, NC.
A full military honors funeral service will be held from George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. (Rt. 16) Wellesley, Saturday January 10, at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Paul Church, Wellesley at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours will be held on Friday January 9 at the funeral home from 4-8pm. Interment will take place on Monday January 12 at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Centerville, MA.
Donations in Bob’s name can be made to the Yawgoog Alumni Association Narragansett Council, B.S.A. PO BOX 14777 10 Risho Avenue East Providence, RI 02914-0777, attention Judy Ferrante.