C. William Cote`

Middletown, RI ? C. William ?Wild Bill? Cote`, 73, of 10 Osage Drive, Middletown, RI, died Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. He was the beloved husband of Bette Hubbs Cote. Born in Springfield, MA on July 6, 1934, he was the son of the late Clarence and Rose Frappier Cote.Captain Cote` was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School in Schenectady, New York. He entered the Navy in 1951 as a Hospital Corpsman serving with FMF Korea, Naval Hospital, Coco-Solo Panama, Canal Zone and Navy Dispensary, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. He also served aboard USSIOWA BBB-61 and USS New Jersey BB-62. Leaving the Navy in 1956, he attended Siena College, Loudenville, New York, and Utica State Hospital School of Nursing, Utica, New York, graduating in 1960. In 1960, he received a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Nurse Corps, U.S. Air Force, serving at Wilford Hall, San Antonio, Texas, and at Westover Air Force Base, Chicopee, MA. In 1965, he applied for and was granted, an inter-service transfer to Lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy, thus becoming one of the first half-dozen male nurses in the Navy. Graduating in 1966 from the former Women Officers School in Newport, RI, he served as staff nurse at Naval Hospital, Bethesda from 1966-1968, and at Naval Hospital, Guam from 1968-1970. In 1971, having received a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University, he served as an instructor at Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Illinois. Captain Cote` became a Nursing Supervisor at Naval Regional Medical Center, Newport, RI, in 1975 and in 1979 he reported to Officer Indoctrination School, Naval Education and Training Command, Newport where he was the Nurse Corps Program Coordinator until 1983. Captain Cote` was selected as the first male Nurse Corps Captain in 1983. From 1983-1985, he served as Director of Nursing Service at Naval Hospital, Groton, CT. Prior to his assignment as Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital Long Beach, California, he served as Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Captain Cote` assumed command of Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes in June 1989. He retired from the Navy in 1992.Captain Cotes medals include the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Untied Nations Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Legion of Merit and Expert Pistol Medal.He was a member of St. John?s Lodge #1, the Newport Elks, the VFW, the MOAA Retired Officers Association and the Navy Nurse Corps Association. He was the Director of Nursing at St. Clare Home in Newport and for the past years has worked for the Aquidneck Island Adult Learning Center in the CNA and Diploma Plus programs. Besides his wife of 44 years, he is survived by his children, Christopher Cote` and his wife Susan of Temecula, CA and Charon McCra of Middletown, RI, his brother Robert Cote` and his wife Linda of East Longmeadow, MA, his sisters, Arlene Carangelo and her husband John of West Haven, CT, Patricia Laughlin of Chicopee, MA and Carole Cean of Indian Orchard, MA, his sister in-law Mary Sandford and her husband Paul of Carlsbad, NM, his grandchildren Matthew and Alicia Cote` and Jessica and Benjamin Orts, his great granddaughter Julia Rose Orts and several nieces and nephews. His funeral will be held on Friday, September 28, 2007, at 11:00am, in Trinity Church, Queen Anne Square, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Thursday, September 27, from 2-4 and 7-9 in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one?s choice.