Dana Coggins, 71, Was Boston Law Firm Partner

Dana Coggins, Esquire, of Mattapoisett, formerly of Westwood, died unexpectedly on Nov. 10 in Venice, Fla., at the age of 71. He was the husband of Anne Medlyn Coggins, with whom he had shared 43 years of marriage.

He was the son of the late Wallace and Alice Chandler Coggins, and grew up on Martha's Vineyard. Following his graduation from Vanderbilt University, he continued his education, graduating with the class of 1956 from Harvard Law School. Upon completion of several judge clerkships, he served a tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force in Kansas and Morocco and attained the rank of captain. He then joined the Boston law firm of Nutter, McClennan and Fish, where he became a partner during a career spanning more than 41 years until his recent retirement.

Residents of Westwood for 32 years, he and his wife retired to Mattapoisett. Mr. Coggins was active in both communities, serving on their town boards. A lifelong New England sports fan, he also enjoyed boating, history, politics and writing, his dog and, most of all, his family. In addition to several legal textbooks, after retiring he published his first novel, Nine Lives, about baseball.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Coggins is survived by his children, Mark and his wife, Anne Marie Coggins, of Alexandria, Va.; Cara and her husband, Jim MacKay of Middleboro; Wallace and his wife, Wynn Coggins, of Arlington, Va., and Alissa Coggins of Mattapoisett; three grandchildren whom he adored, Caitlin, Joseph and Erin Coggins of Alexandria; two brothers, Robert and David Coggins, and two sisters, Beverly Coggins and Barbara Starratt. He was predeceased by a brother, Benjamin Coggins.

A memorial service will be held at the Wickenden Chapel at Tabor Academy in Marion at 10 a.m. on Nov. 23. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Mattapoisett Library Inc., 7 Barstow street, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 or to the Mattapoisett Land Trust, P.O. Box 31, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.