Obituary of Tom Coughlin

Obituary of Thomas Joseph Coughlin

Thomas Joseph Coughlin (Tom) passed away peacefully at Stamford Hospital, surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday August 27^th, 2024. He was 81 years old.

Tom was born March 22, 1943, in Somerville, MA to the late William and Johanna Coughlin. He was raised in Somerville and graduated Matignon High School, Cambridge, MA in 1960. He attended Boston College where he met his wife, Dorothy Smith Coughlin (Brownie), graduating in 1964. Tom got his MBA in Finance from Fordham University and completed his coursework for a PhD in Finance from Pace University. Tom lived most of his life as a resident of Greenwich and New Canaan CT.

Tom and Brownie were married in Fox Chapel, PA in 1965 and relocated from Norwood, MA soon afterward to the New York and Connecticut suburbs as he pursued a career in finance.  Starting out at the small investment banking company, AG Becker, Tom rose through the ranks and became a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch heading their Global Power and Project and Structured Finance groups. The capstone of his career was working with Mario Draghi and a syndicate of banks to privatize the Italian power utility Enel in the 1990’s.

A lifelong car guy, Tom’s second career began in 1995 when he and his son Sean purchased a Volvo dealership in Mt. Kisco, NY. That business soon became The Premier Collection and currently represents eight franchises and employs 360 of the greatest people in the auto industry.

Tom was a skilled and avid golfer, who delighted in playing with friends and “cleaning their clocks” as he liked to say.  The day would continue into a gin rummy game in the card room where his uncanny memory of what cards had been played and which cards were likely to come up next allowed him to do quite well on his weekends at the golf course. He was a proud member of both Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY and Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, CT.

Tom was a member of the Board of Directors for Greater NY Auto Dealers Association for 12 years, and he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Inner-City Foundation for Charity and Education. He  supported many other charities through both his personal and professional giving. Tom has been a dedicated parishioner at St. Aloysius in New Canaan for the last 12 years.

More than anything, Tom loved his family. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Brownie, his son Sean and his wife Karen of Greenwich, his daughter Susan Bradbury of Darien, and his son Brian and his wife Paola of New Canaan.  He leaves his seven cherished grandchildren, Michaela, Lauren, and Jack Coughlin, Trip and Lily Bradbury, Thomas and Fiona Coughlin.  He was predeceased by his loving daughter Patricia Coughlin (Patty) in 2024.

Burial services will be private. The family will host calling hours on September 13^th from 4-7 at Hoyt Funeral Home 199 Main St in New Canaan, CT and there will be a memorial mass held at St. Aloysius Church at 40 Maple St in New Canaan, CT on September 14^th  at 11 am.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY. https://give.wmchealth.org/