On April 29, 2025, Jeff Coulter, aged 76, of Watertown, MA (originally from Liverpool, England), dearly beloved husband to Amal and deeply cherished father to May Jinan, passed away peacefully after a sudden and unexpected illness. In addition to his wife and daughter, he is mourned by a wide circle of loved ones who consider themselves family.
Jeff was a special and extraordinary human being—larger than life, deeply compassionate, and wonderfully multifaceted.
A brilliant and original mind, Jeff was a world-renowned scholar and tireless intellectual who left a profound mark on the field of sociology. As a professor in the Sociology Department at Boston University (1974–2014), Jeff dedicated his life to the pursuit and sharing of knowledge, inspiring countless students and colleagues over four decades. He also served as the department’s chair and authored numerous books and publications, many of which were translated into other languages.
Jeff received the Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching at BU, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Sociological Association’s Section on Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis. His contributions will continue to resonate in the academic community and beyond.
He was also deeply committed to issues of social justice.
Jeff loved life and music and had an insatiable curiosity about other cultures and the world. His passion for travel began at 16, when he took a year off before college to explore Morocco—just the first of many journeys that would later take him to places such as Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon, Palestine, Spain, Portugal, and Japan, among many others.
He had a deep love for Motown music and dancing, loved to play the harmonica and had a special affection for New Orleans, which he visited many times. With his great sense of humor and eternally youthful spirit, Jeff’s ability to form meaningful friendships spanned generations, cultures, and walks of life.
He will be deeply missed by many.
A memorial service will be held at Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn St, Watertown, MA, on Thursday, May 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Interment of the urn will take place on Friday, May 9, at 11:00 a.m. at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Watertown, for those who are planning to attend the Cemetery services, please go directly to the cemetery on Friday morning.