The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-05-05
DR.. COONAN DEAD.
PHYSICIAN FOR MANY YEARS
SERVED NEARLY TWO TERMS AS
POSTMASTER WAS IN MEDICAL
CORPS DURING WORLD WAR.


| o'clock. died DR.. Thomas J. Coonan
at his home in Westminster. and in
his death, not only his family. but the
County he loved so well, suffered a
loss hard to realize now.
In following his chosen profession
DR.. Coonan was but treading in the
| footsteps of his ancestors; he repre-
sented the fourth generation of the
Country Doctor in his family. Only
those living far from town who in the
years gone by, before the advent of
the automobile and the telephone, suf-
fering themselves, or fearing for the
life of loved one. anxiously awaited
the coming of the Doctor, through
muddy roads, and when blocked by
snow, across the fields to the stricken
family, at any hour of the night or
day, know the comfort and relief DR..
Coonan brought to many homes,
where his tender and sympathetic ad-
ministration brought relief from pain
or saved the loved ones life. 1t was
suffering humanity he gladly served;
it was to give relief from pain, to re-
store health, to drive the Grim Reap
er from the door, that induced him to
answer the call for aid; and no favor
was shown to wealth or standing, and
the humblest of his patients received
the same care and attention as those
more favored in worldly goods. And to
this fact the throngs of people of all
ranks in life, who visited his home
from Sunday until his funeral, bore
mute testimony, as they gazed for the
last time upon the man who had been
their friend and comforter in time of
trouble and distress, paying their
last homage to his worth.
He served his whole life in this
community, and was Post Master of
Westminster. when the call came for
the medical profession to volunteer to
serve our boys in Camp and on the
Fields of France. Among, if not the
first, to volunteer was DR.. Coonan,
who obtained leave of absence without
pay, and it was while serving under
the colors that he contracted the
dread disease which caused him
months of cruel. unbelievable suffer-
ing and ultimately his death. Only
those who were with him, know the
agony he underwent, which however
he bore with a fortitude worthy of
soldier Of America, with the fearless
ness of the country doctor who had
been accustomed to gladly risk health
and life in days gone by to serve his
patients. And oh, what an apparent
trayesty it is upon the fitness of
things, that he who had so often serv-
ed others, saved life. relieved pain.
could not be helped by others in his
IT, Ill l.,
He was borne to the grave by his
personal friends and his funeral was
largely attended. Father Mallon,
former pastor now rector of St. AIMS
Church, Baltimore, came to pay trib
ute to his deceased friend and spoke
most feelingly of his life and service.
His grave in the Westminster ceme-
terry was covered with floral tributes,
but if every one whom he had served,
whom he had relieved of pain, to
WHOM ne had been a help, who loved
him, could have dropped a flower on it
he would now rest beneath a wilder
ness of blossoms. A cross of flowers
was presented by the pOstoffice en-
ployees and pillow by the American
Legion.
DR.. Coonan was So years, months
and days of age. and was the son of
the late DR.. Daniel S. Coonan. In 1914
he was appointed Post Master of
Westminster by President Wilson and
was reappointed in November. 1918. He
served during the World War and at
its close was honorably discharged
with the rank of Captain.
He is survived by his widow Mrs.
Blanche b. Coonan, who was daugh
ter of the late Senator Pinkney J. Ben
nett, and the following children:
Irene. Thomas j., Margaret, Catherine,
Jane and Josephine.
Two sisters and brother, Mrs. Will
liam Siddons. Atlantic City; Miss Nan
cy Henning Coonan. this city. and Con-
stance Coonan, Owings Mills, also
survive.
His pallbearers were DR.. Henry NJ.
Fitzhugh, Dr. Lewis X. Woodward,
Guy w. Steele. Carroll Albaugh, C.
Gloyd Lynch, r. Abner Parke, Gloyd
Wells and William Henning. Funeral
services were held at 10 a. m. on We'd
nesday, May 3rd. Rev. Father McGui-
gan saying mass assisted by Father
Mallon. Interment in the Westminster
cemetery. F. A. Sharrer & Son funeral
directors.