Siena College President and South Buffalo native Brother F. Edward Coughlin has died following complications from heart surgery. He was 71 years old.
The Albany-area college announced the Franciscan experienced a catastrophic stroke last week while undergoing scheduled surgery for a congenital heart defect at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
“Br. Ed was a mentor, a tremendous friend and colleague to lean on, both for advice and support, in my time here as president," said Dennis DePerro, president of St. Bonaventure, where Coughlin had served as vice president for Franciscan Mission and was a 1970 graduate. "Beyond that, he was simply a remarkable human being, a wise and gentle spirit who lived each day the Franciscan ideals that make institutions like St. Bonaventure and Siena so special."
Coughlin was appointed president of the private Siena College in 2014.
“He served Siena with distinction and with a heartfelt commitment to the Franciscan ideals that governed his life and the life of the college," said John Murray, Bonnie board of trustees chair. "He set an extraordinary example of servant leadership for our community, and we extend our condolences to his family and to the Franciscan friars of the Holy Name Province.”
A wake will be held at St. Bonaventure on Saturday and Sunday, with a Mass of Resurrection scheduled for Monday Aug. 5 at the Bona University Chapel, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
Siena College will hold a Memorial Mass on Sept. 17 at a time and place to be announced.
