Donald Angelo Coccoli, 77, passed away peacefully at home and into the presence of Jesus on February 16, 2024 after a courageous 15 year battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was preceded in death by his parents Angelo and Frances Coccoli.

Donald was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania on Nov. 6, 1946. The son of an Italian immigrant and in the shadows of Pennsylvania steel country, Donald was raised to value family, hard work, and perseverance. Although smaller in stature, his determination helped him to achieve a full athletic scholarship to Penn State, where he played football as part of the team who won the 1967 Gator Bowl Championship. He graduated from Penn State with a Masters in Education.
A short stint in the Air Force relocated him to Hampton Roads, VA. After discharge, he was employed by Newport News Public Schools as a World History teacher and assistant football coach. Lovingly called "Coach" by his students (including his two sons), he taught for 40 years at both Ferguson High School until its closure and Woodside High School, earning Teacher of the Year by his colleagues twice in his career. Friday and Saturday nights were spent on the football field sharing his love for the game, but also modeling traits such as perseverance and determination to the next generation. His passion for learning lessons from history drove his classroom instruction and his love of education inspired both, one of his sons and his daughter, to continue his legacy in education.

Don valued family, faith, and friendship. Don was passionate about his faith in Jesus, relying upon his faith to get him through the physical suffering that came with Parkinson's Disease.  He has been an active member of several churches throughout his life, including New Covenant Church, Faith Presbyterian Church, and in the later years of his life, Peninsula Community Chapel. When in the early stages of Parkinson's, Don would volunteer with the ministry Nehemiah's Nook, a ministry for the homeless, where he would speak about God's faithfulness throughout the trials of life. He believed this message with his whole heart and lived it through example.

Don leaves behind his loving wife of 44 years, Carol (Ward) Coccoli, who faithfully cared for him during the last years of his life. He is also survived by his children and their spouses, David (Jillian) Coccoli, Sarah (Brent) Bickings, and Daniel (Pamela) Coccoli. His legacy also includes seven wonderful grandchildren, Adeline (13), Grace (10), Edmund (10), Caleb (8), Edward (8), Phillip (5) and Alyce (2). Other family left behind are his sister Patricia Knight; as well as in laws, including mother-in-law Ada Ward, sister-in-law, Beverly (Allen) Bowser, and brother-in-law, Donald (Caron) Ward; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was a wonderfully supportive and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be missed every day until we reunite again. Before Parkinson's, Don loved to run and remained active for as long as he could. His family is comforted in knowing that while he is gone from us now, he is running again in heaven.

We would like to thank three wonderful caregivers who cared from him during the most difficult times of his Parkinson's journey, Anna, Deuntae, and Jay. Your kindness, compassion, knowledge and love of Don made these hard times so much better.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in honor of Don to the Rescue Mission or Peninsula Community Chapel.

Visitation will be at  W. J. Smith and Son Funeral Home, 210 Harpersville Rd, Newport News, VA 23601, on Friday, February 23rd from 5 to 7 PM. A Celebration of Life service will be held on February 24th at 2 PM at Peninsula Community Chapel, 4209 Big Bethel Rd, Yorktown, VA 23693. Burial will be private.

Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.