Jeffery Prescott Coan

NORTH CANAAN — Jeffery Prescott Coan, 67, a longtime resident of North Canaan, died at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness. Born Jan. 26, 1947, in Springfield, Mass., he was son of the late Frances and Prescott Coan of Sheffield, Mass. The family lived in East Longmeadow, Mass., and Jeff attended Cardigan Mountain School and then graduated from Kents Hill School when the family moved to Amherst, N.H., before settling in Sheffield. Jeff was named All New England for soccer and hockey at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, where he received his degree in the arts.Jeffery was a self-employed woodworker in North Canaan for more than 40 years. In the 1970s and 1980s Jeff and his former wife combined wood and clay to create stoneware vessels sold throughout the country through their business, Tinker Farms. They were recognized by Yankee magazine as among New England’s Finest Craftspeople; were featured in Ceramics Monthly magazine; and are in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.For the past 30 years, Jeff had traveled to local and regional craft fairs, exhibiting his unique lamps, vases, cutting boards, lazy Susans, bowls and platters created from spalted, exotic and “found” woods. His beautifully handcrafted, functional works of art are treasured by his family, friends and loyal customers.With his love for sports, Jeff co-created the North Canaan soccer program and was the force behind the Berkshire Hockey youth programs, driving local youth to practices and games throughout the Northeast. He also led the effort to start the Housatonic Valley Regional High School hockey program.Jeff is survived by his three children, Jason Coan of Cornwall, Colin Coan of Great Barrington and Hillary (Coan) Schibi and her husband, Frank, of New Hartford; his grandchildren, Sophia and Cooper Schibi; his sister, Hillary (Coan) Hoppock and her husband, David, of Orinda, Calif.; and his nephew, David Hoppock, and niece, Helen Hoppock Lubetkin, and their families; and his former wife Delores Coan of North Canaan.Jeff will always be remembered as a kind, caring father and friend.A memorial service was held at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan on March 4.Memorial contributions may be made to Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry, Pilgrim House, 30 Granite Ave., North Canaan, CT 06018; or The Jane Lloyd Fund, c/o Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, PO Box 400, Sheffield, MA 01257.