Robert Leroy Coto

Robert L. "Bob" Coto, age 78, passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Sebring, Florida. Born in Three Rivers, Massachusetts on April 24, 1938, he was the son of the late Leroy B and Marcella R. (Thayer) Coto. Bob grew up in Bondsville, MA and married Sylvia Fuller. In 1970 he married Patricia M. Bourdeau and they moved to Brimfield, MA and then to Sebring, FL in 1989. Bob graduated from Palmer High School and attended Western New England College and Springfield Technical Community College. He proudly served his country in the Massachusetts U.S. Army National Guard for 17 years. He was the Fire Captain of the Bondsville Fire Department and also Fire Captain then Assistant Fire Chief and EMT for the Brimfield Fire Department. He served as a National EMT instructor for the State of Massachusetts and was a Lieutenant Instructor in Plastic Fires for Massachusetts Fire Academy. In 1976 he was appointed Police Officer and CD Director for Brimfield, MA. Bob worked for Jarvis & Jarvis in Palmer, MA both part-time and full-time beginning in 1954 while he was still in High School and up until 1989. Bob and Pat owned and operated Pine Tree Craftsman and The Bait Box both in Bondsville and Brimfield. He enjoyed woodworking and cabinet making. Bob is survived by his wife of 47 years, Patricia M. Coto of Sebring, FL; children: Carrie (William) Dean, Victoria (Michael) Lee and Timothy (Jody) Coto all of Monson, MA, Robin (Mark) McCleary of Jupiter, FL, Krista (Lawrence) Coteau-Factor of Avon Park, FL, William (Mary Ellen) Farrell of Bedford, NH, Kenneth (Tracy) Farrell of Seminole, FL, David Gary (Cynthia) Farrell of Philadelphia, PA; sister: Joyce (Jack) Lynch of Willis, TX; twenty-three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law Ernest (Lynda) Bourdeau of Sebring, FL. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, March 18, 2017, 11:00 AM, at St. John United Methodist Church with Reverend Ronald DeGenaro, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at St. Anne's Cemetery, Three Rivers, MA at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial contributions be made to: The Coto Family Trust in care of: St. John United Methodist Church, 33631 Grand Prix Dr., Sebring, Florida 33872 www.stjohnsebring.org