Raymond Joseph Coatoam
Raymond Joseph (“Ray” or “Griz”) Coatoam departed this world in the early morning hours of April 23rd, 2024. Ray unapologetically lived his life on his own terms. He was a man of creative wit, prodigious intellect, and voracious appetite who also possessed an ardent disregard for societal norms and the expectations of others. He loved movies, television, books, intelligent discourse, innovative humor, food, making people laugh, and simple living. He despised bullies, arrogance, and those whom he felt flaunted advantages that they had not earned. Ray attended The Phillips-Osborne School in Painesville, Ohio, and was a graduate of Perry High School (2001), Kenyon College (B.A. Political Science 2005), and Cleveland State University College of Law (J.D. summa cum laude 2016). Ray began his career as an operative for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, providing traveling support to Democratic campaigns for the US House of Representatives. Ray later earned his Juris Doctor while working full-time for a cancer research non-profit and found his calling in law, which he excelled at and took great satisfaction in practicing. He was known to be generous with his time and knowledge and frequently helped those around him solve challenging personal legal matters in his spare time. Ray himself could also be challenging - at times intractable, inscrutable, and a living contradiction of logic - but many people loved and respected him, regardless of whether he invited or agreed with such sentiments.
Ray was preceded in death by his father Jon Raymond “Butch” Coatoam, paternal grandfather Raymond Jon Coatoam, paternal grandmother Claire “Tootsie” Kekelis (nee Babic), maternal grandmother Virginia Terrell, maternal grandfather McConnel “Mac” Terrell, Uncle John Terrell, and Aunt Colleen Kekelis. He is survived by his mother Carolyn Terrell Coatoam, devoted companion Victoria Znidarsic, former wife Lauren MacLaren, older brother Jon McConnel Coatoam and sister-in-law Crystal Paone Coatoam, and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and good friends. Ray will be greatly missed but will live on in the fond memories of many.
Memorial services will be scheduled with friends and family at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.