Obituary of Theodore Paul Cottillion

Theodore Paul (Koutoulias) Cottillion Allegany, NY U.S. Naval Vietnam Veteran and Secular Benedictine Theodore Paul Cottillion, 85, of 41 N. Fifth Street died on Friday (June 18, 2021) at The Pines of Olean after a long illness. Born in Bradford, PA on November 18, 1935, he was the son of Spiros and Hazel Cottillion. On September 20, 1975 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sartwell, PA, he married the former Janet Elaine Loop of Eldred, PA, who survives. Ted graduated from Bradford High School, the Gowanda State Hospital School of Professional Nursing, and attended one year of college at SUNY Fredonia. He later obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from SUNY College of Technology in Utica. After completing a three-year program of study through his church in Eastern Church Studies, he was awarded a diploma from St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology. He was a veteran of the US Navy, serving with the US Naval Hospital Corps for 14 years on active duty, followed by 6 years with the US Navy Reserves at Jamestown. During his naval career as an enlisted man he served with both the US Marine Corps (Camp Lejeune, NC) and the Naval Seabees (Mobile Construction Battalion #8, Port Hueneme, CA), both of which were during combat encounters. He graduated from five military schools during active-duty years, giving him specialized knowledge and skills in various subspecialties in nursing. For three years he served on "lndependent Duty'' (in lieu of a medical physician) aboard the USS ARCTURUS (AF-54) out of Norfolk, VA, out of the Mediterranean and in Hue, South Vietnam, Prior to that he served in the Belgium Congo during a humanitarian evacuation mission while aboard the USS WASP (CVS-18). ln October of 1962, he was assigned to Surgical Team #4 at the Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, which was deployed to the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. This same surgical team also served as medical back up during the foreign travels of the late Presidents Kennedy (USS NORTHHAMPTON) and Johnson (USS WRIGHT). ln late November 1968 until December 1969, he served with the US Seabees (Mobile Construction Battalion #8) in DaNang and Hue, Vietnam. While on active duty he was awarded the National Defense Medal, the Navy and Marine Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with FMF Combat insignia. He was also in receipt of the Naval Good Conduct Medal with two stars (making it his third award in 2 years). Additional educational pursuits in his life prepared him for work as one of the early coronary care nurses, and he later became a Board Certified Emergency Room Nurse (CEN). He was a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Jamestown for many years and he served as a sub-deacon where he went on a missionary trip to Yucatan. He was a long-time member of a Siatistian Association. ln later life he attended St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany where he sang with the choir and was involved in a few parish activities. He held membership with the National Male Nurses Association, the SUNY Alumni Association of Utica, NY and the Allegany American Legion, Charles Harbel Post 982. After one year of spiritual formation as a novice-oblate, he made his final profession as a Secular Benedictine with stability to Mt. Savior Benedictine Monastery, Pine City, NY. ln addition to his love for his immediate and extended family, he was also a loving and attentive pet owner (cats and dogs) who had a special affection for his pet dogs “Fudge” and “Ginger”. He is survived by his wife, his daughter Jennifer McCullough of Allegany, and his youngest son Nicholas Cottillion at home, his sister Carol Close of Bradford, PA, and numerous nephews and nieces in New York State and Western Pennsylvania. He is preceded in death by his parents, a former wife, two sisters, a brother, a son Joseph and his beloved Godfather and Godmother. Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday (June 23, 2021) at 9:30am. Rev. James Vacco, OFM, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial services will follow at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, with full military honors being accorded by the Allegany American Legion Auxiliary. ln lieu of flowers, it was Ted’s request that he simply be remembered in private prayer. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice or to a local library of your choice.