The Mill Valley Chamber's collective hearts are as heavy as they can be this week with the tragic loss of James "Tony" Coyle, a longtime Chamber member and Ambassador whose words brought laughter and whose deeds directly impacted the lives of those around him for the better.
Tony has left us at 83 years old.
We'll leave it to some of his Chamber colleagues to express their thoughts and condolences.
But few are more equipped to share their love and loss of Tony than our Lead Ambassador, Phil Garrett. "He was one of the kindest, gentlest, funny and honest people I ever met, all wrapped up in that beautiful accent. He and I walked most days during the worst of Covid and saved each other’s sanity. Hard to realize an Englishman could love an Irishman! He sure will be missed. He was a treasure of old stories and tales, songs and poetry. The best of friends."
Garrett further formalized his esteem for Tony in the 2020 Enjoy Mill Valley Guide, for which Tony was selected in "Capsules of Joy" as one of the community members who infuse our community with joy, simply by being themselves. Here's what Phil wrote at that time:
Tony has left us at 83 years old.
We'll leave it to some of his Chamber colleagues to express their thoughts and condolences.
But few are more equipped to share their love and loss of Tony than our Lead Ambassador, Phil Garrett. "He was one of the kindest, gentlest, funny and honest people I ever met, all wrapped up in that beautiful accent. He and I walked most days during the worst of Covid and saved each other’s sanity. Hard to realize an Englishman could love an Irishman! He sure will be missed. He was a treasure of old stories and tales, songs and poetry. The best of friends."
Garrett further formalized his esteem for Tony in the 2020 Enjoy Mill Valley Guide, for which Tony was selected in "Capsules of Joy" as one of the community members who infuse our community with joy, simply by being themselves. Here's what Phil wrote at that time:
Tony is one of the most likeable, kind, knowledgeable and funny men I’ve ever met. I can’t imagine ever being annoyed with him, but he’d quickly make you forget whatever incurred the annoyance with that Irish smile and a wink! Once an outstanding rugby player, Tony built a successful career as a contractor. He’s now a seemingly ubiquitous volunteer, delivering groceries for a lady in her 90's and regularly checking in on people living alone. Life is fuller for his friendship. –Phil Garratt, fellow omnipresent volunteer.
"His beautiful big eyes always had a twinkle," says Paula Reynolds, the Chamber's director of operations. We were all blessed to have him in our lives."
"He will be remembered in our hearts and laughs," says Compass real estate agent Michelle Fallone Nelson.
We'll be having a more formal tribute to Tony at our April 18th EMV After Hours event at WrapManager/Assembly at 319 Miller Ave., 5:30-7pm.
"He will be remembered in our hearts and laughs," says Compass real estate agent Michelle Fallone Nelson.
We'll be having a more formal tribute to Tony at our April 18th EMV After Hours event at WrapManager/Assembly at 319 Miller Ave., 5:30-7pm.