Richard Lamar Coram passed away Monday, Nov. 17, 2014.
He is now standing tall and walking briskly hand-in-hand with his beloved wife, Claudia, who preceded him in death.
He was born Oct. 25, 1937 in Orlando, Fla., the son of Marvin and Nell Coram. As a child he contracted polio, but it did not stop him from living a full and interesting life.
He had a great love of the water, and never lived far from the shore, whether in Hawaii, the Bahamas, Coconut Grove, Key Largo or Point Clear on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. He was a master sailor, and won many races in south Florida, and later in life enjoyed therapeutic swims with the ladies in Fairhope.
He was a grassroots environmentalist spending countless hours volunteering at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Richard was an artist and photographer, and loved to plan, design and build small projects around his house.
He read voraciously, and shared his favorite books with friends and family. Richard was especially fond of Florida authors such as John MacDonald, Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey, who shared his disdain of those who profit from despoiling the special places, and those with no sense of history nor love of the natural wonders of the earth.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Claudia Rogers, a well-renowned anthropologist and the love of his life.
He is survived by nephews, Jim and wife Andrea of Williston, Fla., and Phil and wife Kelly of Tallahassee, Fla.; and grandnieces and grandnephew, Taylor, Hillary and Mathew.
He loved spending time with friends and neighbors over drinks, good food and long animated talks into the late evenings — and was uncannily good at picking Kentucky Derby winners.
Richard will always be in our hearts and never will be forgotten.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope.
