Colonel Robert Joseph Cotell, USA, entered into eternal
life Tuesday evening, 6 January 2014. 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.
Funeral arrangements are being made by George F. Doherty Funeral
Home in Wellesley. The wake will be held 4-8 PM on Friday with
a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at St Paul Church on Saturday at 10
AM. Burial will follow on Monday at 11 AM at St
Francis Xavier Cemetery in Centreville, Massachusetts. 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.
OTELL,
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. For directions and guestbook, please visit:
gfdoherty.com.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?pid=173767513#sthash.Biy44sCz.dpuf
OTELL,
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. For directions and guestbook, please visit:
gfdoherty.com.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?pid=173767513#sthash.Biy44sCz.dpuf
OTELL,
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. For directions and guestbook, please visit:
gfdoherty.com.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?pid=173767513#sthash.Biy44sCz.dpuf
.jpg)
