Late building commissioner brought building, fire officials together in the name safety.

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Retired Weymouth, Ma., Building Commissioner Jeffrey R. Coates passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 22, 2015. He was 70. Coates' career as a public safety official spanned more than five decades, including serving as a director, president and treasurer with the Massachusetts Building Commissioners & Inspectors Association (MBCIA) and the Eastern States Building Officials Federation (ESBOF). He also served on the Board of Directors of the legacy organization Building Officials and Code Administrators International. "His service to the MBCIA and ESBOF was nothing short of fantastic," said John Clancy, MBCIA Treasurer and Inspector of Buildings for the town of Burlington, Mass. "He continued his service to those organizations until (the day before his death)." "Jeff was a friend to us all," added Medard Kopczynski, Acting City Manager for the city of Keene, N.H. "Last year when I needed help, Jeff was one of the first to step up for the good of ESBOF and ICC, coming out of retirement to assist. We will all miss his love of the Federation and his dedication." Coates, a registered architect, was lauded for his efforts to have building and fire officials work together in the name safety. "He was the first Building commissioner at the town of Weymouth to develop a very close working relationship with the fire department," said Fire Chief Charles W. Deacon. "By doing this, he brought a new level of safety to all the citizens of Weymouth." A Vietnam War Veteran who served in the Army Corps of Engineers, Coates was the beloved husband of the late Anne M. (Hines) Coates and is survived by two daughters and four grandchildren. Donations can be made in Coates' memory to the Wounded Warriors Project.