Read Jackie A Coyte's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Jackie A Coyte

Fairless Hills, PA, USA

December 23, 1944 - October 6, 2020

Dec 23, 1944 - Oct 6, 2020

In lieu of flowers

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Learn more & give
Help keep everyone in the know by sharing this memorial website.

Share

Photo

Jackie Coyte of Fairless Hills, PA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, October 6th, 2020. Born John Anthony Coyte on December 23rd, 1945, he was known in life as Jackie Coyte and on stage as Jackie Adrian. Jackie lived the life of “show people”: a gypsy in pursuit of “the dream”.
Jackie spent his childhood growing up in Brooklyn, New York, and his adolescence in Old Bridge, New Jersey. In the early days of his stage career, he traveled the country performing in clubs singing, and doing stand-up comedy as a female impersonator. Jackie entertained and brought joy and laughter to everyone he encountered, both on and off the stage.
While living in San Francisco in the 1970s and finding success performing at the famous Finocchio's Nightclub, he realized he was missing out on the lives of his family back east, most importantly his increasing brood of nieces and nephews. He returned home, giving up the gypsy life, but not the dream. He would impart to us his appreciation for all the fabulous magical parts of life. His belief that the place “somewhere over the rainbow” where everyone could be happy exactly as they saw themselves in their heart of hearts and loved for just who they were, really did exist. That it could also exist here in our lives.
Though he lived simply, he never hesitated to give what little he had to someone in need. His dedication to family never waivered; he helped care for his brother, Harry, in his dying days, and lent comfort to his mother during those sad times.
Many years later he would uproot his life again to care for his mother and best friend, being her champion in her final years as she was his in his youth. As her health began to fail he would be there to comfort her as she passed from this life onto the next. Her loss would leave him with an emptiness in his heart aching to be filled by her light again one day. Now that day has come. He is with his “Honey” and together they are whole. I suspect there is much singing and dancing and laughter with all the family members that have passed. And in no time he will be trying to direct the choirs of angels because as he often reminded us, “I’m a soprano, you know.”
Thank you, Jackie, for reminding us to see the magic in life and believing that we could and would be our best selves. Teaching us by example to be true to who we are. Our hearts are a little emptier, saving a spot to be filled with the light of our zany Uncle Jackie again. Until then, we will live our lives as you wished, honoring our family bonds, laughing and singing together, and remembering that we are all loved. Jackie, you will forever be a bright light in our lives cheering us up in our times of sorrow and encouraging us in our times of doubt.
Jackie is survived by his brothers Thomas D Coyte and A Steven Coyte, his nieces and nephews: Thomas Coyte Jr, Mary Cashman, Carrie Coyte, Vanessa Coyte, Jack Logan, Rebecca Coyte, Andrew Coyte, and Wesley Coyte, and a host of grand nieces and nephews, as well as cousins throughout the country. He will be laid to rest in the historic Coytesville Cemetery in Fort Lee, NJ, beside his mother, brother, and father.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jackie’s memory can be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, www.broadwaycares.org, or a worthy charity of your choice. Additionally, Jackie's official obituary can be viewed at www.doughertyfurneralhome.com. You are invited to share your thoughts and remembrances of Jackie, here or with the obituary, or on Jackie's Facebook Page which will remain a memorial.

Order a beautiful PDF you can print and save or share.

Get the PDF

Get notified when new photos, stories and other important updates are shared.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Learn more & give