Vincent Paul Cotter

Vincent Paul "Vince" Cotter, industry leader and extraordinary community volunteer for numerous entities spanning the non-profit spectrum, died Sunday, March 20, 2016 in his Oklahoma City home. His life storyline and rise through the corporate ranks is a classic American success narrative. He was born into the humblest of circumstances June 18, 1927 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Irish immigrants John Joseph Cotter and Margaret (O'Dea) Cotter. He was preceded in death by siblings, Michael J. Cotter, John F. Cotter, Sister Virginia Cotter of the Catholic order Daughters of Charity, Marie Hennessy, Margaret Kelly, Peter Cotter and Thomas O'Brien. Cotter, 88, moved to Oklahoma City with Wilson Food Corporation in 1970. In 1954, he took a job with the Wilson sporting goods division as an accountant in his native Boston. This started a 36-year career with Wilson crowned in 1990 when he retired as chairman and CEO. He volunteered for the U.S. Navy in World War II serving as seaman second class; awarded American Area and WWII victory medals. After the war, he attained a Bachelor's degree and MBA from Northeastern University. Boston; both while working full-time. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lillian (Carroll) Cotter of the home; children, Chuck Cotter and his wife Suzy of Scottsdale, Arizona, Mary Cotter-Lalli and husband, Stephen F. Lalli of Oklahoma City, Jeanne Cotter of Oklahoma City, Paul Cotter and wife Dr. Cindy Newnam-Cotter, D.V.M. of Shawnee, Kathy Lewallen and husband Chris Lewallen of Tulsa; grandchildren, Gary Lalli of Oklahoma City, Kimberly Cotter of Shawnee, Danielle Lewallen and Zac Lewallen of Tulsa. Cotter invested countless hours providing his expertise and talents to the Christ the King Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. His volunteer, leadership roles ran the gamut of non-profit organizations from scouts and church to education, and government boards far too long to list in any one setting. A sampling includes the following: President of school boards – simultaneously – for Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and Mount St. Mary Catholic High School, both in Oklahoma City; Chair and Trustee, Oklahoma Finance Authority; United Appeal Major Division Fund Drive chair and audit committee; Saint Ann Retirement Center fund-raising chair for OKC Archdiocese; Last Frontier Council of Boy Scouts – district chair, vice-president of operations; vice-president of finance; presidential advisor; Economic Club of Oklahoma- past board member; Numerous leadership roles with Christ the King Catholic Church; Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce- vice-president of finance; National Council director for his alma mater, Northeastern University, Boston. The family requests any expressions of sympathy be made to the Vincent Cotter Scholarship Fund at Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School, Oklahoma City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1:00 PM Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at Christ the King Catholic Church with interment to follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.