Paul Michael Coyne

Paul Michael Coyne, 87, of Pittsburgh and Ligonier, passed away on Friday, October 5th, 2018 due to complications of a broken heart. Paul adapted to the progression of Lewy Body Dementia with humor, praying the rosary, a healthy dose of denial, and the love of his family. Then suffered a rapid decline after the sudden death of his wife of 40 years, Anne, in June. His final days, weeks, and months were filled with visits by loved ones, a birthday party, Notre Dame football, music & story telling. Nothing gave him more joy than time with his grandkids, Emmett and Leo, and his son Patrick “the greatest guy in the world” (spouse Kelly.) He had finally made it back to his beloved hometown of Pittsburgh after 32 years in Ligonier, where he “bought” Anne her pharmacy, moving in with his daughter Bridget and her spouse, Isaac. Paul was born on September 28th, 1931 in South Oakland to Irish immigrants Patrick ‘Paddy Pier Street’ and Bridget Coyne. He was the youngest of 7 siblings, Mary Tunney, Patrick, Anne McGee, Martin, Ellen Bartley and Nora McGee, and is now the final Coyne in that generation to pass. He charmed everyone he met, especially his wife’s family, the Besands in St. Louis who he introduced happy hour to and regaled them with tall tales of his horse, Big Red and sidekick Rusty Fritz up on Uncle M’s farm. Anne met Paul in Bible study at St. Paul’s Cathedral but had never encountered the likes of an Irish guy from Oakland. When asked by his daughter why he still used embellishment to get a rise out of Mom he said he “had to because it was too easy.” But the true essence of his personality can be summed up by what he taught his son, “talk to people because it makes them feel at ease.” Paul was an avid tennis player, playing well into his 80s. He will be missed on and off the court by his tight knit tennis friends in both Ligonier and Hilton Head, SC. He also loved playing the Irish card game Rabbit with his nephews. He was known to play until 4am drinking and telling stories, and still get up for 8am mass! “Uncle Paul” will be missed by 57 nieces and nephews that he loved dearly. Paul worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the State. He was drafted during the Korean War and said the happiest day of his life was handing in his gun when it was over. Growing up, he parked cars for a nickel outside Forbes Field, never paid for a game, movie or show knowing all the ushers in Oakland. He rode horses in Shenley Park, got into bar fights, ran numbers & was a legend of the old Oakland. He taught English in Mexico City, hitchhiked across America, Ireland, and Mexico. Passed on his zeal for adventure reminding his children each Christmas “experiences last longer than toys.” He never missed a parade and took his kids to the Carnegie Museum every Saturday. The love he had for God, he passed onto all of us, “work hard, play hard, pray hard.” Friends will be received on Friday from 2-4 and 6-9 pm at the Edward P. Kanai Funeral Home, 500 Greenfield Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Saturday at St. Paul Cathedral, 108 N. Dithridge St., Pittsburgh. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Harp and Fiddle, 2329 Penn Ave., after the funeral mass for a little nosh and some eulogizing (stick around for the Notre Dame game afterwards!) Arrangements have been entrusted to Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main St., Weirton. Share tributes and memories at www.grecohertnick.com