Obituary of Richard Coulter

Obituary of Richard Andrew Coulter Jr.

Richard “Rich” Andrew Coulter Jr, 61, fought and survived brain cancer for 26 years before passing away on Saturday, April 8, 2023, surrounded by the devoted caregivers of Rosary Hill Home

He was born in White Plains Hospital on October 1, 1961 to Linda and Richard Coulter Sr., the second of four children and their only son. 

Rich grew up in Larchmont where his first love of swimming took him on many laps in the Long Island Sound. 

Rich lived in New York and Connecticut, where he raised three children Andrew, 34; Stephen, 32; and Katharine, 31.  

He graduated from Mamaroneck High School and went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Richmond in 1983. While at college, he met and fell in love with his eventual wife, Celeste Baldera – also a Larchmont native. 

Rich and Celeste created and raised a family in the following years, the watershed moment of his life. He coached his kids in basketball and soccer and embraced them with his famous “bear hugs.”

Rich’s other defining work came in the late 1990s when he was first diagnosed with a brain tumor at Waterbury Hospital. 

He never challenged or complained why he was called into that role; instead, took on being a survivor with profound acceptance and determination. 

Waterbury was not the only hospital Rich would have to visit on his journey. His endurance was tested several times over the next two dozen years as the tumor – formerly operated on, twice – found new ways to regenerate in his head and grow. 

When surgery was ruled out as an option, Rich doubled down on his refusal to quit. 

Thanks to the loving aid and care of his nurses and doctors at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Rich was able to back up that stubbornness and persevere through to see all of his children graduate from high school and college. 

He also was witness at two of his children’s weddings, where he celebrated and danced well into the night away, and stayed alive to see the birth of two grandchildren, Jack and Luke. 

Rich’s love for life was enormous, displaying a rare blend of energy (even when he had little left to give) and patience (despite being tested again and again by doctor’s visits and various diagnoses). 

Even when he began to lose motor functions in February 2020, Rich continued strumming his famous air guitar, watching his favorite movies alongside his family, and beating them in backgammon. 

A passionate New York Jets fan, Rich stayed up on the latest sports news each morning and afternoon by reading the newspaper. He passes on a love for sports, movies and music that live on in those who know him. 

Rich is survived by his three children, two grandchildren, his mother, Linda, and his three sisters, Katharine, Deborah and Susan. He is predeceased by his father, Richard Sr. who passed in January 2019. Rich is also survived by two nieces, Amelia and Julia, and his brother-in-law, Dean. Also survived by Aunt Joan Smyth, Joan Coulter, and Ann and Roland Coulter, as well as cousins Kenny, Karen, and Lisa Coulter. 

His family will receive friends on Thursday, April 13, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the John J. Fox Funeral Home 2080 Boston Post Road Larchmont, NY 10538. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for all donations to be sent to Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, N.Y. For more information, call 914-769-0114.