Rev. David R. Cote

Rev. David R. Cote, 88, of Gardner, died peacefully Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Heywood Hospital, Gardner, after a period of declining health with his family by his side. 

Born in Willimantic, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Roderick and Helen (Skoglund) Cote. He attended Willimantic Public Schools and graduated from Windham CT High School with the Class of 1953. He enlisted in the United States Navy, serving during the Korean Era aboard the USS Ticonderoga from 1953 to 1957. After being honorably discharged, he started his college education at Upsala College in East Orange, NJ, graduating in 1961 with his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a minor in Sociology, followed by his Master of Divinity Degree in 1965 from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago—Rock Island Campus, and was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1965. 

David began his ministry being called to develop a new mission parish in Wilbraham, MA—Christ the King Lutheran Church, which was organized, and building completed in 1970 and followed his call to serve as Pastor of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Shrewsbury, MA, in 1971. He was next called to serve as the Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Portland, CT, in 1975. David was last called to serve in 1991 as Pastor of Covenant (now Faith) Lutheran Church in Gardner, MA, retiring from parish ministry in 2005. 

During his tenure in Gardner, David's dedication to the community was unwavering. He served as Chaplain of the Gardner Fire and Police Department beginning on July 1, 1991 until his passing. He also served as the On-Call EMS Chaplain at Heywood Hospital, as well as various committees and task forces at Heywood. He served as a board member of Onsite Academy in Gardner and was a member of the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains and a member of the Montachusett CISM Team. 

David is survived by his two sons, Mark D. Cote and his wife Linda of West Chester, PA, and Paul D. Cote and his wife Patty of Richfield, PA; a daughter, Rebekkah A. Cote of Bynum, NC; four grandchildren, Katherine, Mary, Matthew and Sarah; two great-grandchildren, Ryder Klink and Delilah Arnold; a brother, Alan F. Cote and his wife Lydia Davis of East Nassau, NY; a nephew Theo Cote and his wife Haley Balcanoff and their son, Asa Cote; several cousins; a special friend, Karen McKenzie of Shrewsbury and his family of first responders in the Greater Gardner Community. 

He was predeceased by his former wife, Grace E. (Breien) Cote. 

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Perry Auditorium at Gardner City Hall, 95 Pleasant Street, Gardner, MA. 

A period of visitation will be held Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the auditorium. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Rev. David R. Cote may be made to the Gardner Fire Gift Account. Checks may be made payable to the City of Gardner, reference the Fire Gift Account. Donations may be sent directly to the Gardner Fire Department, 70 City Hall Avenue, Gardner, MA 01440.