Robert Coughlin, retired city and regional planner
Robert E. Coughlin, 88, of Chestnut Hill, a retired city and regional planner, died Thursday, Jan. 7, of heart failure at home.
Robert E. Coughlin, 88, of Chestnut Hill, a retired city and regional planner, died Thursday, Jan. 7, of heart failure at home.
Born in Boston, he was the son of William and Helen Coughlin.
Dr. Coughlin graduated from Roxbury Latin School and received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University, a master's degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a doctorate in city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania.
He served in the Navy before and after college, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
From 1955 to 1961, he worked for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, playing a major role in preparing the city's comprehensive plan.
He was tasked with developing an analytic framework relating the city's capital program and budget to the comprehensive plan.
"Bob loved his studies and work as a city and regional planner," his family said in a tribute.
From 1962 to 1980, he was vice president of the Philadelphia office of the Regional Science Research Institute. He directed research relating to regional and urban economic issues, and on the impact of urbanization on the environment, open-space preservation, and farmland protection.
In 1981, Dr. Coughlin and John C. Keene founded Coughlin, Keene & Associates, a consulting firm in the field of planning and policy analysis. Dr. Coughlin led projects concerning analysis and evaluation of land-use regulations, farmland protection, urban sprawl, and growth management.
He also looked at tourism, population, and economic projections, and served as an expert witness in zoning cases. Dr. Coughlin and Keene produced the seminal National Agricultural Lands Study: The Protection of Farmland - A Reference Guidebook for State and Local Governments.
Dr. Coughlin was a senior fellow in Penn's department of city and regional planning, where he taught land-use analysis and land-use policy evaluation.
At St. Martin-in-the-Fields, an Episcopal church in Chestnut Hill, he found a spiritual home. He became an avid change ringer, one of a group of participants who pull a rope cord attached to a set of bells. The bells chime in a series of changing mathematical sequences.
In 1980, Dr. Coughlin led a successful drive to have a set of bells hung in the church tower, in the English free-swinging style. He served on the vestry as well as the liturgical committee, and in 1974 he became a canon of the Cathedral Chapter, Diocese of Pennsylvania.
He also enjoyed contra dancing and sailing.
"He considered it a compliment to be called a liberal," his family said.
He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Louisa Spottswood; daughters Nina Cook and Bess; son Ely; three grandchildren; a brother; and a sister. Jane Keagy Coughlin, his first wife and mother of his children, died in 1996.
A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at St. Martin-in-the Fields, 8000 St. Martins Lane. Interment will be in the church columbarium following the service.
Donations may be made to the North American Guild of Change Ringers, c/o Bruce Butler, 829 N. 25th St., Philadelphia 19130.
610-313-8102