John Joseph Cotter, Sr., 60 years old of Uxbridge, MA, formerly of Ashland, passed away unexpectedly at Milford Regional Medical Center on December 23rd, 2024. Born on January 8, 1964 in Framingham, he was the son of Louise (McGuire) Cotter of Milford, and the late John Richard Cotter Jr., who passed in March 2013. He graduated from Ashland High School in 1982, where he made many lifelong friends and made all those around him laugh. After high school, he attended Sylvania Technical School in Waltham for computer electronics. He married his high school sweetheart Patricia Jo (Dieterly) Cotter on June 4th, 1988. He worked at EMC for several years early in his career. He then worked at Sonus Networks in Westford, MA from 1998 until 2018, and spent 20 years there in various roles, managing computer technology, and later facilities. He loved his work at Sonus and was a valuable part of getting their business started. In 2018, he moved on from Sonus and worked at Hanscom Federal Credit Union, managing their facilities across Massachusetts. To be closer to home, he began working as a Facilities Manager at Webster Five in Auburn in 2022. Everywhere he worked, he was loyal, dedicated, and hard-working, and he was cherished by all of his coworkers throughout his career.

The most important thing to John in his life was his family, and he loved spending time with his beloved wife and four children. In addition to his father, he was predeceased by his sister Joan (Cotter) Poulson in January 2017. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Jo (Dieterly) Cotter, and his four children, Kelly Ann Cotter and her husband Evan Gale of Natick, MA, his son John Joseph Cotter, Jr. and his wife Alexandra of Taunton, MA, his daughter Allison Paige Cotter of Cranston, RI, and his son Timothy David Cotter of Grafton, MA. He is also survived by nine siblings, Michael Cotter of Milford, MA, Donna (Cotter) Swett and her husband William of Nampa, ID, Cheryl (Cotter) Frazier and her husband Alexander of Maynard, MA, Steven Cotter of Lexington, NC, Thomas Cotter and his wife Laura of Franklin, MA, Robert Cotter and his companion Robin Butler of Northwood, NH, Jean (Cotter) Nannicelli and her husband Richard of Antrim, NH, his brother-in-law Benjamin Poulson of Stow, MA, Diane (Cotter) Brewer and her husband Roy of Millbury, MA, and Susan (Cotter) Rondeau and her husband David of Milford, MA. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and nephews.

John loved caring for others, and always put his family first. He was kind, funny, and always knew just what to say in every situation. His laugh lit up every room he entered. He was truly selfless, and his entire life was spent in service to others. There was nothing he loved and valued more than spending time with his wife, children, mother, and his many extended family members and friends. He was thrilled to find out that in Spring 2025 he would become a grandfather, as his daughter Kelly and husband Evan are preparing to welcome their first child. He couldn't wait to take on the title of "Papa." He loved going for long walks, and on the weekends, he enjoyed going out to dinner with his wife. He took great pride in caring for his home and especially his lawn. He loved watching Boston sports, most notably the Red Sox, a love with which he shared with his father and children. He also loved supplying endless treats and cheese to his favorite grand-dog Delilah, even earning the nickname of "The Cheese Man." One of his favorite things to do was to spend his weekends picking apples at Bolton Spring Farms every Fall, where he was well-known and loved. He had endless joy and energy, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday Dec. 30th at 10:00am in the Chapel of the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA.  Visiting hours will be held Sunday from 2:00-5:00 PM in the funeral home.

Donations in John's memory may be made to the Framingham Heart Study Research Fund .