DR. TOM AND DR. CYNTHIA COAD

Donors Have A Heart for the Music Ministry

In Loving Memory of Dr. Tom and Dr. Cynthia Coad

Dr. Tom and Dr. Cynthia shared a heart for music.

Tom Coad, was a retired dentist, and Cynthia Coad, a former county supervisor and retired school administrator, were big supporters of Christ Cathedral and the Diocesan Music Ministry. They were Christ Cathedral Guild donors and sponsored many concerts on the Christ Cathedral campus in Garden Grove.

Tom referred to Dr. John Romeri, the Director of Music Ministries for Christ Cathedral, as "bringing the entire county together, not just one church. He brings everyone together. John Romeri is a man of many talents." Cynthia agrees, and sees the cathedral itself as an instrument bringing people together.

"It brings the feeling that we're all together, not just individuals worshiping in different parishes," she said. "It's wonderful to belong to a parish, but it's very nice to have the Christ Cathedral. It's practically a miracle that it became a Catholic cathedral.

"It's a continuation of the great cathedrals in Europe. It's a worldwide attraction, and for us it's a beautiful campus that brings people together. Ecumenism is important to Bishop Vann," she noted.

Tom retired from his dental practice in 1992 and became a certified financial planner. When Cynthia ran for county supervisor in 1998, Tom became her campaign manager. She represented the fourth district when they lived in Anaheim and served one four-year term.

While they lived in Santa Ana, in the unincorporated area of north Tustin, the Coads kept up their ties with Anaheim.

The parents of seven were recognized by the Cypress College Foundation as "Mr. and Mrs. Anaheim." She taught economically disadvantaged unemployed adults at the college for many years and ran various vocational programs.