Jules D. Cote ’60

Jules D. Cote ’60 of Essex, Vermont, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2014, at the Vermont Respite House. Born in Asbestos, Quebec, at age 13 he became a U.S. citizen and grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. He graduated from Manchester High School West as valedictorian and member of the National Honor Society. Jules was legally blind and attended Perkins School for the Blind before entering high school in Manchester. He was the first legally blind student to attend public school in New Hampshire as a full-time, mainstream student. At Dartmouth he majored in Romance languages and minored in economics, was active in the French Club and participated in wrestling. Following Dartmouth he married Jacqueline Ann in 1961 and then went on to earn a master’s from Boston University in 1965. A memorable event in his life was meeting Helen Keller. He dedicated his life to service as a volunteer and a paid administrator. Among the professional positions he held was that of associate director of the Helen Keller Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults and executive director of the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, from which he retired in 2000 after 13 years of service. Jules was a former director of the International Association of Lions Clubs. In recognition of his service and leadership as a Lion he received numerous national and international awards. Jules is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, son Marc, daughter Carmelle, five grandchildren, two sisters and two brothers.