MILFORD, MASS. – J. Robert Cote, 74, of 49 Stone Ridge Road, Franklin, Mass., passed away Friday, May 6, at the Milford Medical Center in Milford, Mass., where he had been a patient for the past three days. He had been in failing health for the past several years.

He was born July 6, 1930, in Lewiston, the son of William and Melanie (Grenier) Cote. He graduated from St. Dominic Regional High School of Lewiston with the Class of 1949.

He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War for four years, mostly with the Army Security Agency.

He had been employed as a sales representative and sales manager for the Prudential Insurance Co. of America for more than 33 years before retiring.

He had resided in Franklin for the past 13 years, where he and his wife, Muriel, had moved upon retirement in April 1992. He previously resided in Lewiston for 31 years, and Berlin, N.H., for the next 30 years.

He was a member of St. Jude Parish in Norfolk, Mass., and American Legion, in Medway, Mass., Post 367, was a past-volunteer driver for the Meals-On-Wheels program, and for the books home-delivery program of the Franklin Public Library. He was past-president of the Northern New Hampshire Life Underwriters Association, past-lector and past-council officer of St. Anne Parish in Berlin, N.H., past-president of the League of the Sacred Heart of St. Anne Parish, and was past-officer of the Berlin Mixed Bowling League.

He enjoyed many good years of hunting and fishing activites in Maine and New Hampshire.

His most precious joy was his family.

He is survived by three daughters, Diane and her husband, Randolph Erb, of Castine, Claire Cote of Carlsbad, Calif., and Pauline and her husband, Joseph Santino, of Norfolk, Mass.; four grandchildren, William and Katherine Erb, and Nicolette and Melanie Santino; one brother, Normand and his wife, Rita; a sister, Estelle and her husband, Lawrence Bouchard, of Lewiston; brothers and sisters-in-law, Gerard and Constance Giguere of Phillipsburg, N.J., Donald and Lorraine Maheu of Downingtown, Penn., Julien and Yolande Dumont of Lewiston, Sylvia Martel of Nashua, N.H., Gilbert and Henrie Domingue of Saco; and many nephews and nieces.

He was predeceased by his wife, Muriel, of almost 45 years, in August 1996.

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