Dr. Don Coerver
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Dr. Don Coerver (1943-2020) Don Marion Coerver, passed away on June 25, 2020 after suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. Don was born September 18, 1943 in Dallas, TX to Mildred and Marion Coerver. He grew up in Dallas and graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School as Valedictorian. Don attended Georgetown University and received his bachelors and master's degrees in history from Southern Methodist University. At SMU, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Theta.
After graduating SMU, Don served our country as a Captain in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1968. He married the former Marie Louise Solon on August 14, 1970 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas.
Don earned his PhD in Latin American studies from Tulane University in 973, living in Mexico City for a brief period to research his dissertation.
In 1973, Don came to Fort Worth and started his career at Texas Christian University as a professor of Latin American History where he served as Chairman of the History Department for many years and Associate Dean of Addran College of Liberal Arts from 2002-2017. He was the director of the Master of Liberal Arts program at TCU for almost 25 years. The university recently named a lecture series in liberal arts in his honor as a recognition of his contribution to the program. Dons fields of study was the story of Mexico and he published works on U.S.- Latin American Foreign Relations and border studies. For decades, he was a contributor to The Handbooks on Latin American Studies published by the Library of Congress.
Don was a member of Colonial Country Club for over 45 years and was a very determined tennis player. He and Marie were active in Marriage Encounter for many years.
He was a dedicated husband and father and will be missed by many. Since Don was a lifelong learner and supporter of education his family has elected to donate his body to UT Southwestern Medical Center for research purposes. Due to CO-VID 19, a memorial reception will be held at Colonial Country Club at a future date. A private interment will take place at Calvary Hill in Dallas in 2021.
Don is proceeded in death by his parents and brothers; Edward, Patrick and Joe Frank and nephew Robert Frei. SURVIVORS: Wife of 49 years, Marie Solon Coerver, daughter Katherine Davis and husband, Connor; 4 nieces and 2 nephews and beloved calico cat, Sequin. The family would like to thank Autumn Leaves Cityview for their care for the past 3 years.