COLUMBIA FALLS
Michael Jay Coan, age 64, passed away on Aug. 7, 2019, in Bangor. He was born in Glen Ridge, N.J., and lived in Columbia Falls. Mike attended public schools in Caldwell, Riverton and Moorestown, N.J., Chelmsford, Mass., and Lincoln, Maine. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Surveying Engineering (1994) and a Master of Science in Spatial Information Science and Engineering (1996), both at the University of Maine in Orono. His surveying work was in Maine, Massachusetts (the subway system in Boston), Alaska, North Dakota, Australia and New Zealand. He worked for Martin Marietta Corp., and later conducted government research as a senior scientist in the United States and Africa through the U.S. Geological Survey and Raytheon Corp. in Sioux Falls, S.D. He published peer review research in satellite technology applications. In one of his favorite projects, he used geographical positioning system technology to help resolve longstanding boundary disputes between coffee growers in Ethiopia.
Mike had many adventures. Recently he retired to Columbia Falls with plans to develop an orchard. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward M. and Barbara Smith Coan, and by his special friend Pam. He is survived by his siblings and their families: Alison Coan Dibble (Keith) of Brooklin, Edward J. Coan (Kiyoko) of Kapaa, Hawaii, Annette B. Coan of Yonkers, N.Y., and Susan E. Coan (John McIntyre) of Lihue, Hawaii, nephew Norman E. Dibble of Hood River, Ore., and niece Claire A. Dibble (husband, Mike Taylor) of Golden, B.C., Canada. He is also survived by his uncle and aunt, James and Marie Smith of Newtown, Conn., and many maternal and paternal cousins and their offspring in the United States and Ireland.
Mike had a lifelong interest in wildlife, and observed platypus in the wild in Tasmania. His passion was for the outdoors, especially remote wilderness. Though he traveled the world, his heart remained in Maine. He will be missed for his stories, his wry humor and his generosity. The family is grateful to the physicians, nurses and staff of the acute cardiac unit on the 4th floor at Northern Light EMMC in Bangor.