Melinda Tighe Cotter of Greenwich, CT and Vero Beach, FL passed away peacefully on April 12, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.
Melinda was born in Detroit, Mich. to E. Parry Tighe and Dorothy Freeh Tighe. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College, in Los Angeles, CA. Following graduation, she served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy Nurse Corps. In her three years in the Navy she served at Camp Pendleton and the Navy hospital on Guam. It was on Guam that she met her future husband, James M. Cotter, a fellow Naval Officer. They were married for 50 years.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her three devoted daughters: Elizabeth of Greenwich; Heather (Kane Geyer) of Greenwich; and Kathryn (Jay Shaner) of Sacramento, CA, as well as her beloved grandchildren, Kellan and Lainier Geyer and Sophie and Hazel Shaner. She is also survived by her sisters, Merriellen Jaffe of Las Vegas, NV, Jill Truelsen of Northridge, CA, and Janet Betz of Stamford, CT.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to Greenwich Emergency Medical Services (GreenwichEMS.org), 1111 East Putnam, Suite 201, Riverside, CT, 06878, or the Lustgarten Foundation (Lustgarten.org) 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY 11797.
