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OBITUARIES

Donn T. Coffee ’55: The Quintessential Alumnus

Donn T. Coffee '55 and his wife, Toni

Donn T. Coffee ’55, a retired management consultant and one of the College’s most active alumni, died on May 24. He was 69.

Born on July 12, 1934, in Albany, Coffee was a member of a stalwart Columbia family. His older brothers, J. Collins and Joseph, were members of the Classes of 1940 and 1941, respectively. At Columbia, Coffee was active in student life and president of his fraternity, Delta Phi. He earned an M.S. from the Business School in 1956.

Coffee worked for many years as a construction management and training consultant, until an accident prompted early retirement. His first job was as a research associate for Management Development Associates in New York. He then held a series of senior positions in various consulting and management firms, including the Management Improvement Association, Automated Training Designs, and Performance Review and Development Systems. His last position was chairman of Organizational Development Technology in New York.

For all his professional accomplishments, Coffee is best known at Columbia for his fierce dedication to his alma mater. He served as president of his class from 1960–65 and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia College Alumni Association from 1963–65. He served as a class agent supporting the Columbia College Fund. With other members of his extended family, he supported the Coffee Family Scholarship Fund at the College. Coffee also was a key member of Columbia War Remembrance, an alumni initiative to erect a memorial to Columbia’s war dead on campus. Coffee received the Alumni Medal from the Columbia University Alumni Federation in 1988.

At a June 3 memorial service at St. Paul’s Chapel, Dean Austin Quigley remembered Coffee for his integrity and his character, describing him as “the quintessential College alumnus.” He recalled fondly how Coffee “moved like a yacht at [College] events, zigging and zagging across the room” so he could have a word with the dean about some project or event on campus.

Gerald Sherwin ’55, former president of the Alumni Association and current president of the class, described Coffee as “courageous, dependable and thoughtful,” remembering Coffee as a loyal fan who regularly attended Lions football and basketball games as a student and alumnus.

Coffee and the former Toni Crowley ’56 Barnard married in 1955. After his retirement, the couple traveled among homes in New York City, California and London and regularly came to campus for College events and athletics competitions.

In addition to his wife, Coffee is survived by his son, Peter; daughters, Susan and Eve (Jeffers); six grandchildren; and five brothers and sisters. Memorial contributions may be mailed to the Columbia College Fund, 475 Riverside Dr., Ste 917, New York, NY 10115-0998 or given online: www.college.columbia.edu/alumni/giving.

Lisa Palladino and
Timothy P. Cross

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