Richard J. Coirier

Visitation for Richard J. Coirier, 62, of Fox River Grove, will be held from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich.  Visitation will continue on Sunday, August 20, 2023, also at the funeral home from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm with a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 PM. The Interment will be private.

He was born on June 1, 1961, in Evanston, IL and passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at his home surrounded by his family.

Rich was a middle school teacher in Wauconda for 21 years, and worked very hard to ensure that his students’ education did not just focus on things like course content or test metrics- he wanted to provide his students with a safe space for them to be supported and emotionally grow, so that they could go on to live happy, fulfilling lives. In his capacity as a teacher, he co-directed the musical theater program, amplifying the impact that he was able to have on students, and providing a number of them with opportunities to express themselves that wouldn’t have been available otherwise.

His impact did not stop at the classroom doors- he was an assistant scoutmaster in his son’s Boy Scout Troop (Troop 93 in Lake Zurich) and acted as their summer camp scoutmaster for a number of years, providing outdoor education and guidance while acting as a positive role model for the next generation of young men.

Rich had a deep love for food and cooking, always seeking to get outside of his comfort zone in terms of the food he ate. He enjoyed experimenting with unfamiliar or special ingredients in the kitchen, many of which came from the local farmer’s market or his own garden. He shared this love with his son and daughter, who are similarly experimental in their endeavors.

As an avid gardener, he spent many hours digging in the dirt under a hot summer sun in an attempt to perfect his garden. He found a lot of joy in fretting over the little things, like the placement of different plants relative to others, and was glad that constant weeding meant he always had something to do, even though it is usually considered a chore that most would prefer not to worry about.

Richard was the loving husband of Laura Jane (nee Young); father of Nate Coirier and Morgan Coirier; and brother of Chris Coirier.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard J. Coirier Memorial Scholarship Fund via Zelle to richardjcoirierscholarship@gmail.com