Donald Manning Coffin

Donald Manning Coffin of Newton, N.J., passed into the loving arms of the Lord, peacefully and painlessly, on April 10, 2017, in Newton, N.J.
His 93 years of faith, service, and accomplishment have cast a huge shadow that will be hard to surpass. In his own quiet way, and with a smile, he affected the lives of people too numerous to count.
Born Sept. 6, 1923, in Montclair, N.J., to Robert and Helen Coffin, young Don loved spending his summers at his Grandfather's farm in Dudley, Mass., rising before the sun to hitch up the horses and wagon for the dawn milk deliveries. Traveling back and forth by bus fostered his life-long passion for motor coaches. A 1942 graduate of Montclair High School, where he earned the nickname “Bus Boy,” he began his higher education at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. A member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, his studies were interrupted by World War II, when he joined the Navy. Assigned to the USS Whiteside (AKA-90), he earned battle stars from the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns and witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
Returning to Lafayette, he graduated in 1949 and began what would become a 40-year career with the New York Telephone Company. He never missed a day of work.
At Central Presbyterian Church in Montclair, he met Helen Donald MacConnachie. Helen and Don were married Oct. 11, 1952. The first of their children, Keith, and the arrival of their second, Donna, called for a move to their first house. Two more children prompted another move, to Upper Montclair — the “big old yellow barn” where child number five, Marilyn, was born.
He was also very active in his church, Indian Guides, Boy Scouts, and the Deer Lake Club. Most of all, he made special time for each of his children, always including them on errands and work around the house
A primary member of the Motor Bus Society, he served as editor of their publication, “Motor Coach Age,” and later as a founding member of the Museum of Bus Transportation, in Hershey, Pa.
After a gala retirement party in 1986 that featured a DeCamp bus for transporting family and friends into New York City, Don and Helen moved to their custom-built dream home, “Postlude,” in the Poconos. More service followed in the Hemlock Farms Church, Volunteer Fire company, the bus museum, and local AA groups (shared with his permission). In AA, Don’s message of strength and hope guided and inspired many people struggling with addiction, men and women of all races, ages, backgrounds.
Amidst the swirl of volunteer work and a growing family, Don and Helen toured the world, often with good friends, but always returning to their mountain home in Pennsylvania. Don's love of all things Greyhound saw him traveling the country as a "Mystery Rider," reporting on the company's drivers and service to the Home Office. His collection of Greyhound artifacts, photographs, and model-buses continued to grow to legendary status and many was the bus fan who made the pilgrimage to Don's basement for information and conversation. Considered the "Honorary Historian" for Greyhound, Don's advice was sought by authors, television producers, and movie directors in search of accuracy in what buses were appropriate for a particular era — right down to the paint scheme and registration numbers.
He was preceded in death by his beloved Helen in 2012; his siblings, Robert and Helen; and his grandson, Max Briganti.
Survivors include his children Keith Manning (Jacqui) of Dallas, Texas; Donna (Matt Merville) of Sparta, N.J.; Gordon Thayer, of Portland, Ore.; James Brian (Courtney) of Cedar Grove, N.J.; and Marilyn (Mike Koponen) of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Courtney Lynn (Schmitz) of McKinney, Texas, Andrew James of Philadelphia, Ian Scott (Michelle) of Montebello, N.Y., Todd Cameron of Dallas, Texas; Dylan James of Cedar Grove, N.J.; Mackenzie and Brodie of Dallas, Texas; Eric and Kory of New Orleans; Chris (Nichole) and Casey of Loveland, Colo.; and great-grandson, Michael Joseph, of Montebello, N.Y.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, at the Church of Hemlock Farms, Lord’s Valley, Pa. The following day, July 23, interment of ashes will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church in Montclair, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Church at Hemlock Farms, 1493 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley, PA 18428; or the Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire Company, 1053 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley, PA 18428.