DR. JAMES G. COTANCHE, JR., MD

AMHERST, Dr. James Gilbert Cotanche, Jr., 86, of Cherry Lane, died June 27, 2012 after a brief illness.

Born April 3, 1926 in Rochester, NY, he was the son of James G. Cotanche, Sr. and Gladys (Willits) Cotanche.

He grew up in Gates, NY and attended MadisonHigh School in Rochester, NY. In July of 1941 he enlisted in the Army, served in Germany during WWII and was discharged on July 4, 1946. He then attended the University of Rochester where he received a BS in Biology in 1950 and a Doctorate in Medicine in 1954. In March of 1951 he married Gertrude Rose Blackwood, a nursing student at the U of R, and remained married to her until her death in 2003. Following medical school, he served a two year residency in General Practice at the University of Michigan and moved back to Wolcott, NY, where he opened his first private practice in his home in 1956. He moved his practice to Sodus, NY in 1959, where his parents lived and opened an office above his Father’s Drug Store.

He moved to Amherst with his family in 1966 where he took a job as a Physician at the Health Services for the University of Massachusetts. While at UMass, he became involved in Sports Medicine and served for years as one of the Physicians for the UMass sports teams. He retired from UMass and medical practice in 1992. Following retirement he was an avid orchid grower and member of the Amherst Orchid Society. He was a member of the FirstBaptistChurch in Amherst for many years where he served on numerous committees. He had a passion for reading, gardening, opera, building electronics, painting, marquetry, and history.

He is survived by his wife Nancy Wight, son Douglas Cotanche, daughters Janet Lawler and Meg Page and grandchildren Jason, Calvin, Molly, Maggie, John, Tyler, and Adam.

A Graveside Service will be held Friday, July 6, at 11:00AM in WildwoodCemetery, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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