In Memory

Gary Coil

Gary Coil

Gary Coil, age 73, of New Port Richey passed away June 17, 2017, while on vacation in Ohio.  He was born in Lima, Ohio and moved to St. Petersburg in 1957 with his family.  He was a graduate of Boca Ciega High School, St. Petersburg Junior College, the University of South Florida and Appalachian State where he earned his master’s degree.  For 33 years he taught history and served as department chair at Seminole High School in Pinellas County.   As an instructor, he hosted many students on trips to Washington, D.C. where they learned the essentials of government.  On trips to Europe, his students learned the history, art and architecture of each country visited.  He also taught as an adjunct instructor of history at St. Petersburg Junior College.  He loved sports and coached baseball, basketball and football.  For 14 years he announced the Seminole High School football games every Friday night. His approach to teaching with many visual aids and current events made him popular with his students.  They have described him as a teacher who truly impacted their lives for the better.  In retirement he moved to New Port Richey where he became active serving the community and volunteering.  He was a past president of the Rotary Club of Holiday and served as the Assistant District Governor for Area 7, District 6950.  He was the active liaison for the Interact Club at Gulf High School in Pasco County.  He was a member of the Clearwater Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and served as 1st vice president.  He was a volunteer poll worker in Pasco County as well as a precinct supervisor.  One of his great passions was genealogy.  He was a member of the Pinellas and Tarpon Springs Genealogy Societies and was director of the West Pasco County Genealogical Society.  His family research grew to 3,000 pages and led him to the first Coils to arrive in this country, Valentein and Margaret, two Germans who arrived here in 1749 aboard the ship Edinburgh.  He is survived by brothers, James Coil (Sharon) and Bruce Coil (Sue) and nieces, Christina Coil, Cynthia Coil Jones (Devin), Courtney Coil and Lindsey Dougherty.  A service will be held Saturday, July 29, at the Michels & Lundquist Funeral Home, 5228 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, FL.  The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. with the service following at 2:00 p.m.

“To teach is to touch a life forever."

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