With life as short as a half taken breath
Don't plant anything but love.
-- Rumi
COOPERSTOWN - Shaman John Edward Coughlin, a Native American spiritual counselor and healer, ended his life's journey Monday, July 2, 2012. He was 42.
John entered this life July 10, 1969. He was a 1989 graduate of Mount Markham High School. He was teacher, confidant, healer, writer, and brother to many.
Martial Arts were an important element in John's life. A Chinese GoJu from 1986 to 1990, he achieved the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt under the instruction of Brooks Karate in West Winfield. From 1990 to the present, he was a North American GoJu Karate Jujitsu Tae and achieved the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt under the instruction of KyoshiEfren Reyes of Utica Karate Studio. John founded Cooperstown Karate, and taught the mixed martial arts of GoJu, Aikijutsu, Tactical Fighting, Kung Fu and Karate.
John is survived by his life-partner, Kristen Jastremski; his children, Christopher JM Coughlin, Tyler JR Coughlin, Sapphire DL Coughlin, Brandon NW Coughlin, Brenna LR Coughlin, Kae'leigh A Mundy, Samantha Mundy, and a step-daughter, Sofia RJ Jones; two sisters, Tanya Yaddow and Brenda Walker-Androved; two brothers, Andrew Walker and David Walker; and his aunts and uncles, Gert and Neal Force, Joan Totaro, Carolyn LaRock, Joanne and Bob Dalton, Eva and Rick Harvis, Elsie and Bob Howland, and Tom and Nancy Dalton.
He was preceded in death by one son, Matthew R Mundy; and his parents, Sharon Lee Coughlin and William Dalton.
Services will be private.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.
