Richard Guild Coffin

1906 - 1987

Dick Coffin was the eldest child of Howard Aldrich Coffin (1877-1956)[President of White Star Refinery, President of YMCA, House of Representatives 1947-8] and Abigail Sweetland Ghodey (1879-1945). The Coffin family could trace its American roots back to Tristram Coffin who came to Boston Massachusetts around 1642 and eventually settled on Nantucket, Island. Dick was born in Cynwyd, Pennsylvania Feb 3, 1906 and was followed by a brother Dean and two sisters, Carolyn and Gail. The family settled in Detroit around 1916 and, 4 years later, he prepped at Mercersburg Academy, class of 1924 (He was a classmate of Frank Smith Sims and this was his original introduction to Sims Ranch and the family) and went on to attend Brown University. His grandson Dick Ramsay said, “He did not graduate—legend has it that during his sophomore or junior year he was expelled for driving a Model A Ford all over the college green, no doubt “under the influence”. It seems that he was the ringmaster of a “drunken circus” to entertain various alumni and Dick Coffin was the only one to admit his part in the stunt. A good example of the kind of man he was.

By the time he was 21, he had fallen in love with Susan Knowles Sims; they announced their engagement on April 23, 1927 and were married 2 months later in the Sims’ Chicago home at 112 Bellevue Place; the reception was next door at the Fortnightly club. He and his bride then lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Dick was employed by White Star Refinery Company of Detroit. They welcomed their first daughter Virginia 10 months later. From this modest beginning, Dick Coffin worked hard and was amply rewarded. When Socony-Vacuum bought White Star Refining, Dick moved up. He was District Sales manager in charge of the western part of Michigan and northern Indiana with headquarters in Grand Rapids. In 1940 he and his family, which now included daughters Chuckie (Charlotte) and Gale (they lost a son at birth) were transferred to New York when Dick was made assistant to the general manager of the marine sales department for Socony-Mobil Oil. He successively became assistant manager of marine sales, domestic manager and on Jan 1, 1946, manager of the entire division. He was later promoted to vice president of the marine sales division of Mobil Oil Corp. By this time, he and Sue had welcomed their 4th daughter Lyn.

By the time he was 21, he had fallen in love with Susan Knowles Sims; they announced their engagement on April 23, 1927 and were married 2 months later in the Sims’ Chicago home at 112 Bellevue Place; the reception was next door at the Fortnightly club. He and his bride then lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Dick was employed by White Star Refinery Company of Detroit. They welcomed their first daughter Virginia 10 months later. From this modest beginning, Dick Coffin worked hard and was amply rewarded. When Socony-Vacuum bought White Star Refining, Dick moved up. He was District Sales manager in charge of the western part of Michigan and northern Indiana with headquarters in Grand Rapids. In 1940 he and his family, which now included daughters Chuckie (Charlotte) and Gale (they lost a son at birth) were transferred to New York when Dick was made assistant to the general manager of the marine sales department for Socony-Mobil Oil. He successively became assistant manager of marine sales, domestic manager and on Jan 1, 1946, manager of the entire division. He was later promoted to vice president of the marine sales division of Mobil Oil Corp. By this time, he and Sue had welcomed their 4th daughter Lyn.

Dick was often accompanied on his lengthy business trips by various family members and, by the 1970’s, his wife Sue could honestly state she was tired of travelling around the globe and would rather spend her summers at Sims Ranch.

His job was strenuous and required significant overseas travel, circling the globe more than once a year. This amount of travel propelled him into one of his most favorite memberships…the Circumnavigators Club. This club is an international organization open to anyone who has circled the globe, regardless of mode of travel, crossing all longitudes in order.” The Club’s purpose is to encourage global fellowship and understanding. It strives to inspire people to see and absorb as much as they can about the world in which we live. It is devoted to providing those who have circumnavigated the globe with a forum for intellectual exchange.” [1] While the club includes many famous travelers, the club holds their highest honor for individuals who are dedicated to advancing peace and understanding in all parts of the world. The Magellan Award has only been bestowed on 30 people in the 118-year history of the club. While one might expect it to have been awarded to Sally Ride, James A Michener, John Glenn, Thor Heyerdahl and General Douglas MacArthur, in 1962, its second recipient was, Dick Coffin. He went on to become president of the world-wide Circumnavigator Club and later, in retirement, president of the Arizona chapter.

His grandson goes on to say “He was a longtime member of North Hempstead Country Club and loved to play golf and gin rummy with his cronies. He was no stranger to a martini, and loved to regale family and friends with stories at cocktail hour. He was an avid reader and was especially handy at the workbench, building all kinds of furniture, putting together electronic devices (radios/clocks etc.) and making toys for the grandkids. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing especially, which he did all over the world.

In retirement Dick and Sue moved to Scottsdale, AZ where Dick became a member of the posh Paradise Valley Country Club, where Dick enjoyed playing golf and where he and Sue dined frequently.”

Dick passed away April 4, 1987 only 6 weeks after his wife of 60 years. They are interred side by side in the Sims Family Cemetery.