Walter John Coyne

Walter John Coyne, 77, of Naples, FL, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. He was born on February 17, 1943 in Acushnet, MA, the son of John Matthew Coyne and Rachel (Benoit) Coyne Roy. He enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Fairhaven, MA, where many of his famous stories originated. He knew everyone in town, the result of delivering papers and groceries as a teenager. In later years, he would amaze his friends with the way he still remembered their addresses and phone numbers from over fifty years ago.

Walter graduated from Fairhaven High School, then received his degree in textiles from Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute in 1965. His career in textile sales began in Manhattan, then took him to Providence, RI in 1976. He moved his family to Rochester, MA, then ultimately settled in Westport, MA in 1978, where he lived until he moved to Winston-Salem, NC in 1990. After a variety of textiles sales jobs over the years, he eventually started his own business importing rubber thread from Malaysia and Thailand. As his corporation expanded, so did his opportunities to travel to Asia and form many friendships. He retired in 2012 and his company continues through his son. He and Jacquie finally settled in Naples, FL in 2015.

Walter’s gift of gab and Irish humor were engaging to everyone who met him. He had a heart of gold and loved to help others. He was a man who lived his faith, as witnessed in his generosity, kind-heartedness, and devotion to his wife of fifty-four years. His family will always cherish his quick-wit, sarcasm, and treasured repetitive stories, many of which began with: “Pretend like you haven’t heard this before…”. His child-like antics left his children and grandchildren with many fun memories. He enjoyed sailing, cooking, travel, Irish pubs, dim sum, history, Jeopardy, bragging about his children and grandchildren, reading obituaries from his hometown, and sharing things with people that he thought they would find interesting. But most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

Walter is survived by his wife, Jacqueline (Comeau) Coyne of Naples, FL, his daughter Loreen Wright and her husband, Alex, of Peachtree Corners, GA, his daughter, Erin Coyne, of Winston-Salem, NC, and son, John Coyne and his wife, Isabel,  of Greensboro, NC, and his grandchildren, Andrew, Colin, Michael, Fen, and Morgan; his sister, Gabrielle Giblin, of Wareham, MA, and his brother, Edward Coyne and his wife, Rita, of Richmond, VA; along with many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will hold a small, private funeral Mass at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Naples, FL, officiated by his close friend, Fr. Frank O’Rourke, then he will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven, MA at a date to be determined. They ask that those of you who knew Walter raise a glass of Dewars in his honor from wherever you are in the world.  Donations in Walter’s honor may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.