Susan A. Snow-Cotter

Snow-Cotter, Susan A. of Hingham December 13, 2006. Devoted daughter of Frederick S. and Joan M. (Reinstein) Snow, Sr. of Medfield. Beloved wife of W. John Cotter, Jr. of Hingham. Cherished mother of Carley Cotter and Nicholas Cotter both of Hingham. Loving sister of Frederick S. Snow, Jr. and his wife Angela of Holliston, Pamela M. Snow of Colrain, MA, and Stephen P. Snow and his wife Maura of Holliston. Dear niece of Barbara O’Brien of Revere and Arthur Reinstein, Jr. of Bellingham. Fond cousin of Anne Marie and Eddie O’Brien of Revere. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service on Monday in Old Ship Church, Hingham at 11:00 AM. Visiting hours Sunday 2 – 6 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St., HINGHAM. Cremation will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan’s memory may be made to The Snow-Cotter Family Education Fund, c/o Hingham Institution for Savings, 55 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043-2590. The following is from The Commonweath of MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Office: Susan Snow-Cotter, Ocean’s Policy Expert and Mass Environmental Leader Beloved wife of John Cotter, mother of Carley and Nicholas. Susan passed away at the age of 45 after battling Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Susan grew up in Medfield, MA the second of four children to Joan & Fred Snow, both living. Sister Pam Snow, brothers Fred & Stephen. Susan leaves behind many nieces and nephews and friends from all over the world, several who traveled from Europe, Mexico City, London Cyprus & afar. Susan attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and received a BA in Political Science. She returned to school to receive her Masters in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. Susan and John moved back to the US from the Island of Saipan in September of 1994. After spending a year in Medfield, landlocked, they moved to Hingham in 1995. Susan’s Husband John said “she faced this with more courage, strength and élan than I could ever hope to muster, and gave a great example to me and the kids how to live life. Susan never once asked “why me”, never questioned why it wasn’t detected sooner, never blamed anyone, just focused on the future and things that we could do. She more often than not was comfort to me, more than I was to her. I wish I had 45 more years with her, but am glad I had the time I did.” Susan’s siblings describe her as a leader and an avid traveler. Her sister Pamela said “Susan played as hard as she worked and was sure to fit in as much as she possibly could into her life. She traveled to Paris and London with her parents in 1975, and has never stopped traveling since.” In addition to her love of travel Susan was a devoted environmental advocate. She was an integral part of The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management for more than 12 years. She began at CZM in 1994 as their first Ocean Policy Coordinator where she successfully developed the state’s first strategic plan for aquaculture. In 1998 Susan stepped in as Assistant Director of CZM and was later appointed CZM Director and effectively headed up the 1st in the nation Environmental Affairs Ocean Management Initiative. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Secretary Robert W. Golledge, Jr. said “Susan’s dedication and enthusiasm for the environment, as well as her positive outlook and leadership, inspired many of her friends and colleagues, both within the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and all those she touched through her work at Coastal Zone Management. Susan’s impact on our environment will be felt for many years to come. Balancing human use with environmental protection in the ocean was a true passion for Susan. She was a true ocean’s expert and was a member and Council Chair of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, she served on the Northeast Regional Ocean Council, the US Committee on Ocean Policy’s Federal/State Task Team on Research Priorities and she was the Chair of the state’s Coastal Hazard’s Commission. Susan was also active in Hingham town government and prior to working at CZM served on the Hingham Harbor Development Committee. Susan’s colleagues said she was a major champion for ocean management. She led many efforts to bring innovative management approaches to the entire Gulf of Maine region. In particular she spearheaded a region wide effort to map the seafloor off the New England Coast. The entire field of ocean management will miss her quiet leadership and forceful vision. Maggie Merrill a resident of Hingham said “Susan was one person in this town with whom I could connect on issues related to the ocean and its protection. She worked on a very high level in the state, but never was condescending. She was always very helpful and generous with her time, talent and knowledge of state politics and ocean resources. Her love of the ocean was deep seeded in that it gave her great pleasure and solace to walk the beach in Hull and row with the crew in Hingham Harbor. She was great in the stroke seat”. Arrangements: Wake from 2-6 on Sunday at the Pyne-Keohane Funeral home, 21 Emerald St, Hingham. Funeral service to be held Monday at 11 am at the Old Ship Church on Main St in Hingham Center. The church has a hall across the street for a reception after. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Snow-Cotter Family Fund for the children at Hingham Institution for Savings 55 Main St, Hingham, MA 02043-2590 attn Mary Lampert