John L. "Jack" Coté, a founding member of Willingham & Coté P.C., in East Lansing, died Dec. 6 in Holland at the age of 86.
Cote served as president of the Ingham County Bar Association in 1974, and was a recipient of its 'Outstanding Attorney' Award.
He was a founder and one of the first directors of Thomas M. Cooley Law School and was its second president and a member of the board for 25 years.
He also was past president of the Federal Bar Association for the Western district of Michigan.
A Bay City native and a 1952 graduate of Detroit College of Law, Coté was elected by his peers to be a Fellow of the State Bar Foundation, and also was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve on the Attorney Discipline Board,, he served a seven-year term and was elected its chairperson for the first five years.
As head of the litigation department at Willingham & Coté P.C., he specialized in Admiralty and Maritime law, as well as representation of hundreds of attorneys, including judges.
Coté served in the Korean War where he was attached to the 3rd Armored Division.
He enjoyed skiing, travel and reading, and was an avid sailor and boater. A retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, he helped solve mysterious disappearances of boats in Lake Michigan and in the Atlantic, and appeared on national television as an expert witness in solving maritime cases.
Coté is survived by his wife Joy and five sons, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral and military services were held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Holland and burial was at Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Holland or Community Action House.
Published: Tue, Dec 22, 2015
