CAMDEN — Dr. David T. Coghlan, president of Paul VI High School in Haddon Township and former superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Camden, died Sunday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
He was 56. Bishop Joseph A. Galante said Dr. Coghlan’s commitment to the diocese “has been a great gift to all of us who are the church of South Jersey.” “He was a man of great spirituality and will be greatly missed,” said Sister Marianne McCann, principal at Paul VI High School. Students and some faculty returned on Monday to learn the news of Dr. Coghlan’s death.
Sister Marianne addressed students in different grades during two separate assemblies where they also offered prayers. Anthony J. DePetris, vice president of the school’s Board of Trustees, called Dr. Coghlan “the consummate Catholic gentleman.” “No matter where he served or in what position, Dr. Coghlan did so with dedication, fidelity and grace,” he said. “His life and work stand as an exemplar for our young people to emulate.”
Student Julia Lively, a junior, commented that she “never once saw him angry.” Shauwn Hines, a senior and a member of the basketball team, said that Dr. Coghlan often attended the games. “We always spoke in the hall whenever I saw him,” he said. He would say, ‘Hey, Shauwn, good game last night.’” Dr. Coghlan’s wife, Katharine, works at Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City. Born in Quincy, MA and raised in Baltimore, MD, Dr. Coghlan resided in Audubon. He attended Mt. St. Joseph College High School and Mt. St. Mary’s College.
He received his master’s degree and doctorate in English literature from Temple University. He began his teaching career at Gloucester Catholic High School where he served for 16 years, rising from English teacher to department chair, dean of students, director of guidance and assistant principal. He became assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Camden in 1988. In 1991 he was named the first layperson to hold the position of superintendent.
“He was a great role model and helped me greatly to learn the job of Catholic schools superintendent,” said Sister Dawn Gear, who took over the job of Catholic schools superintendent for the Diocese of Camden when Dr. Coghlan accepted the position of president of Paul VI High School. She added that the Catholic Schools Office has established a scholarship to honor his work in Catholic education.
During Dr. Coghlan’s time as superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Camden, he was responsible for overseeing 55 elementary schools and seven high schools throughout six counties of the diocese. He served as chairperson of the New Jersey Council of Catholic Schools Superintendents, chairperson of the Nonpublic School Advisory Committee of the New Jersey Department of Education and was a founding member of the New Jersey Catholic Schools Marketing Council, During his years in the superintendent’s office, Dr.
Coghlan testified before the New Jersey State Legislature on various nonpublic school issues. In 2003, he was named president of Paul VI High School where he oversaw the school’s alumni relations, development programs and Annual Fund. In addition to his work in the diocese’s school system, Dr. Coghlan served as an adjunct faculty member at Temple University in Philadelphia as well as at Camden County College. He also occasionally contributed editorials to the Catholic Star Herald. He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Haddon Heights and a committee member of Boy Scout Troop 88 in Audubon. In addition to his wife, Katharine (nee Crawford).
Dr. Coghlan is survived by: three children, Mary Kate (Katie), Maureen and John; brother, Victor and his wife Karolyn of Baltimore, MD; sister, Donna Donovan and her husband, William of Arlington, VA; sister Terry Boer and her husband, Angelo of Catonsville, MD and numerous nieces and nephews. A viewing will be held today, Friday, Oct. 7, from 5-9 p.m. and again Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, 4th Avenue and Kings Highway, Haddon Heights.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at New St. Mary’s in Bellmawr. Arrangements are by the Healey Funeral Home, Haddon Heights.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to: The Dr. David T. Coghlan Scholarship Fund, c/o The Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Camden, 631 Market St., Camden, NJ 08102.