Peaceful passing of Colonel Mary Coyle, USAF NC, Retired

 
A sad flurry of emails among former members of the 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Westover AFB, MA. We're learning of the deaths of USAF Colonel Mary Coyle and her husband, U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Edward Coyle.

Col. Mary Coyle and her beloved husband, long time residents of Milton, MA passed away peacefully on 10 July and 30 July, respectively.

Mary was born in Boston and was an RN at Carney Hospital. A devout Catholic she lived her life faith as she volunteered with the homeless and other charitable activities. 

Col Coyle was a Flight Nurse Examiner and later the Commander, 74th Aeronautical Evacuation Squadron, Westover AFB, MA. She was a dedicated officer and a kind, skilled nurse. She trained and mentored many, many, young Flight Nurses and Medical Technicians (and Medical Service Corps officers!) and carefully prepared them for their combat medical roles. 

Col. Coyle’s husband Ed was born in Dighton, MA. He was a U.S.Marine Corps Colonel who served with distinction. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in Viet Nam. 

Mary was the model of an officer, a gentlewoman and a nurse. Also, a model of a commander I was blessed to know. Unnecessary details aside, she spent a few lunch hours with me down in the Boston MBTA, talking about careers and she quite literally changed several decades of my life for the better after that.

God bless her, her husband Ed, and those who with me mourn now her loss.