Dr. Jay Hartwell Coats passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 4, 2025, in The Villages, Fla. He was born into a loving family on March 7, 1941, in Kalamazoo, Mich. His father, Hal B. Coats, his mother, Florence H. Coats, sister, Kay Coats Lynch and brother, Keith Hal Coats all preceded Jay in death.
He grew up in Edgewood, Pa., and throughout his life maintained meaningful relationships with good friends from his close-knit Edgewood High School class of ‘59. After high school, Jay went on to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, earning Bachelor, Masters and PhD degrees.
In 1971, Jay began his long, storied career at West Virginia University (WVU) … starting out as an Assistant Professor and retiring in 2005 as Dean Emeritus of the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics.
Through the years, Jay held many positions in the college that allowed him to push boundaries and lead the school to new concepts in the WVU learning environment. Early on, he was excited to be involved in the offer of an executive MBA program that was taught in distance-education centers in W.Va. He served as Director of Graduate Programs. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Executive in Residence program, which brought noted executives to campus to teach and pass on their exceptional knowledge of the business world to their students. Jay truly loved WVU and his years of service there. After retiring to Fla., Jay continued to follow WVU sports.
He loved rooting for the “Mountaineers” and it always warmed his heart when he heard the fans singing “Country Roads”.
Forever a “car guy”, Jay joined multiple car clubs in The Villages. One, which both he and Cindy could enjoy, was The Mini Cooper Club. It offered opportunities for them to caravan in their Mini Cooper Roadster to towns and events both nearby and out of state. The Race Car Fan Club and Classic Car Club continued to provide interesting events for him to attend, where he enjoyed the camaraderie of other enthusiastic automobile and racing fans. However, Jay’s greatest fun began in 2016 when he became the co-owner, with his nephew, Hal, of a vintage show car which won several awards. Late in his life, he could still be found at the car shows, sitting in his wheelchair alongside of their 1976 AMC Pacer and having a great time talking with people who had questions about the car’s unusual history or who just wanted to admire the old car that had been so meticulously restored.
Jay never stopped being social, and although confined to bed at home the last year of his life, he always greeted dear friends and family with a warm smile. The caregivers and nurses who knew him throughout that year came to love him. As a matter of fact, everyone who met Jay immediately felt like a friend. He had a dry sense of humor, always a fast comeback and a smile that made everyone feel welcome.
Jay is survived by Cindy, his beloved wife of 59 years; and also by many nieces and nephews and their families… all of whom loved their uncle Jay… and he loved them too. This wonderful, sweet, spiritual man, who lived a life of integrity and devotion, will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
A Celebration of Jay’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, at the Lady Lake Campus of The Church at The Springs, 1601 Tracy Avenue, with Pastor Drew Cheyney officiating.
In remembrance of Jay, contributions may be sent to: The Dean Jay Coats B&E Endowment Fund #3V1128, WVU 1 Waterfront Place, PO Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507; or The Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, 909 Greenbag Road, Morgantown, WV 26508.
