VINALHAVEN — Deborah G. Coffin, 63, died Jan. 31, 2014, at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Deb, as she preferred to be called, was born in Lowell, Mass., Oct. 8, 1950.

She was raised in Hamilton, Mass., and graduated from Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School in 1968. She graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a degree in physical education, going on to teach PE and coach basketball in the Searsport School system for 15 years. During this time, she also played women's softball on the Oronoka team, and made many lifelong friends with her teammates. She then earned master's and doctorate degrees at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in physical education pedagogy, and most recently was an associate professor at Lyndon State College in Vermont. She moved to Vinalhaven in 2007, very happy to be returning to her favorite state.

She leaves her parents, Peter N. Coffin and Elaine G. Coffin of Damariscotta; sister, Martha C. Reed and her husband, Wesley, of Vinalhaven; her niece, Natalie of Portland; her beloved chocolate Labrador, Mocha; and her cat, Mildred. She was predeceased by a beloved cat, Hoover, in 2013.

She also leaves a great support system and friends, including Louie Martin, Ruth Sayward and Gery Torborg. Her family is deeply grateful to her friends on Vinalhaven for having taken her into their care.

Deb loved her animals dearly and when not volunteering in the community could be found in her recliner reading or watching sports with Mocha and Mildred both in her lap.

Deb was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 7, and was recently honored at Joslin Clinic in Boston for having survived more than 50 years with this disease. She spent her life educating and advocating for young people through teaching, attending and then directing at the Barton Camp for Diabetic Children, participating in the Big Sister Program and coaching many school sports teams. When she was no longer able to teach, she moved to Vinalhaven and found the loving community that she had been unable to find elsewhere.

Deb was an avid volunteer, and hated to miss even one date helping sort bottles for Eldercare. She also volunteered with Second Hand Prose, the Union Church Circle's bean suppers, the American Red Cross and the Vinalhaven School Library. She also enjoyed playing in the Town Band.

A service will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m. at the Pleasant River Chapel in Vinalhaven. Contact Martha at 207-863-4361 with transportation inquires for out of town friends and family.

Donations in Deb’s memory may be made to The Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Suite 745, Boston, MA 02215, or to Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P. O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland.