Dr. Don C.F. Cotton

My sincere condolences to Elaine and family on Don's passing. Don enriched us as students with his knowledge and passion for nature, even if we manage to retain a fraction of all he thought us we will be all the richer and eternally grateful. With fond memories of birding trips around Sligo in the 1980's, ecology classes in the bogs and corncrakes calling outside the glass room as Don taught.

Sincere sympathy to Elaine and all the Cotton family on the sad death of Don. May he rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to the Cotton family on the sad passing of Don. I began lecturing just as Don was coming up to retirement, but I remember him for being full of kindly and wise advice on my environmental dissertations. May he Rest In Peace.

Sincere Sympathy to Elaine,Roisin and Aisling on the passing of Don. May he rest in peace. He was a most interesting person and it was always a pleasure to meet him.

Sincere sympathy on the sad passing of Don . May he rest in peace .

On behalf of colleagues at IT Sligo I wish to offer our condolences to Elaine and to all of Don's family. Our thoughts are with you all at this time. May he rest in peace

Sincere condolences to Elaine, Roisin and Aisling. Back in the 90s, we both enjoyed weekly bird watching outings in Don's knowledgeable company to watch abundant wildlife in the Sligo environs. Don was an accomplished, knowledgeable academic, who delighted in passing on his extensive knowledge to both students and amateur environmentalists. He was also an insightful gentleman. He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by those in many walks of life who had the pleasure and honour of his company. May he rest in peace!

Sincere sympathy on the passing of Don. May he rest in peace.

Very sorry to hear of your loss Elaine, Roisin and Aisling. I am a former student of Don's in Sligo. He was so enthusiastic about his subjects we were very privileged to be students of his. May he Rest in Peace.

Sincere condolences to Elaine, Roisin and Aisling on the passing of Don. I shared an office with Don from the time he first started at Sligo RTC around 1981. Our chairs were literally back to back in a small office in the School of Science and we had many interesting chats facing opposite directions. Don had a passion for his subjects - Ecology and Earth Science - and was a true lover of nature, something that he instilled in both his students and colleagues. His list of publications is testimony to his professional reputation and the high esteem with which he was held by all who were privileged to know him. May he rest in peace.

Sincere Sympathy Elaine and daughters on the passing of your
dear husband Don Indeed my friendship with the Ring family goes
back many years You are in my thoughts and prayers in these sad days

Phyllis

Our deepest sympathies to you Elaine, Róisín and Aisling, on the passing of Don. A true gent and born educator to the last...we will miss our meetings at the gate when a chat would often become an engrossing discussion about some aspect of Mother Nature. (And his Moth Trapping days will be fondly remembered in Rahaberna for years to come!) May he Rest in Peace.

Deepest sympathy to Elaine and family on the sad passing of Don. May he rest in peace.

My sincere sympathies to Roisin all the Cotton family on the passing of Don. May he Rest in Peace

Our sinere sympathy to the Cotton family on the passing of Don. We remember fondly many chats with him when out walking on the Yellow Strand or at Raghly.

Sincere sympathy to the Cotton Family on the sad passing of Don .To Elaine Roisin and Asling I share the family sadness and offer my prayers for the happy Repose of Don's Gentle Soul .
Scithe i Siochain an Tiarna .

Sincere sympathise to Elaine, Róisín and Aisling. Don was such a gentleman and extremely generous. I’ve very fond memories of meeting him in Dublin, Sligo and when staying in the cottage. May he rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to the Cotton family on the passing of Don. May he rest in peace

Sincere sympathies to Elaine and family on Don's untimely passing. I have many happy memories of botanising with him in Sligo in the late 1980s.

Sincere sympathy to the Cotton family. Don was an inspiring lecturer, passing on his passion and knowledge of all things Ecological. RIP -

Dear Elaine, Roisin and Aishling so sorry to hear of Don's passing. May he rest in peace.

Noelle, Michael and family

My deepest sympathy to you Elaine, Róisin and Aisling on the sad passing of Don. May he Rest in Peace

Nearly 40 years ago, when we lived in Sligo, we met Don Cotton on outings that introduced the Quigley family to the wonderful variety of seabirds and wildlife along the Sligo coastline.

When we were leaving Sligo in 1987, we were pleased that Don and Elaine purchased our house.
Now, 35 years later, we were sad when we, recently, heard of Don’s illness.

We wish to extend our sympathy to Elaine, Roisin and Ashling.
May he rest in Peace with Martin.

My deepest sympathy to Don's family on his passing. I was a member of the first BSc Environmental Science and Technology class. Don's practical classes and field trips were just brilliant and something we all looked forward to and enjoyed. His love for Ecology was passed on to most of us. A brilliant lecturer and most of all a total gentleman

My deepest sympathy and prayer to Elaine and family on the death of Don. I worked with Don in the then RTC in the mid 1980s. I always found him a most respectful and honourable person, serious too, but also endowed with a lovely impish sense of humour. A learned man.

May Don Rest in Peace. He was one of my lecturers in Sligo in the 1980s, a lovely man. Condolences to his family.

My sincere sympathies to all the Cotton family on the passing of Don. May he Rest in Peace 🌹

Sincere sympathy Elaine and family on the passing of Don. I remember a friendly colleague and an inspirational environmental scientist. May he rest in peace.

Our sincere sympathy to the Cotton family on the passing of Don. May he rest in peace.

Our sincere sympathies to Elaine, and to Roisin and Aisling, on the sad passing of their beloved husband, and father, Don.

My sincere sympathy to the Cotton family. He was an enthusiastic and inspiring lecturer. His passion for ecology and sharing of his knowledge was remarkable. May he rest in peace.

My sincere condolences to Elaine, Roisin and Aisling on another great loss to your family. I remember very well Don’s visit to Kenya many years ago and catching up with him on the time we worked together in the RTC in Sligo. May he Rest In Peace, reunited with Martin.

My sympathies to Elaine, Aisling and Róisín.
He will be sadly missed.

My sincere sympathy to the Cotton family on the sad passing of Don. He was an outstanding lecturer and so enthusiastic about his subject. May he rest in peace.

Sincere condolences on the sad passing of Don. May he rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to Elaine and family on the sad passing of Don. May he rest in peace.

My deepest heartfelt sympathy to Don, his family, friends and colleagues on this untimely passing. Don has been a giant in the field of ecology on this island and been a mentor to many generations. Amongst his great legacy has been his inspiration to many students and friends - to help protect the planet or at least this small part of it - that he had such an unrivalled knowledge of. My condolences to all who knew Don. Rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to all the Cotton family, Don was an inspiring lecturer back in the late 1980s when we were students in Sligo Regional Technical College, may he rest in peace.

Elaine, Roisin and Aisling, our sincerest sympathy on your great loss. May Don rest in peace.

Our Sincere sympathy to Elaine and family on the passing of Don. May he rest in peace.

Shocked and saddened to hear of Don's passing. I have lasting memories of our regular autumnal walks on Dun Laoghaire pier while he was a colleague in UCD. He was a brilliant ornithologist and a gentleman.
My condolences to all his family. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers

Sincere condolences to the cotton family on the passing of Don. May he rest in peace

Very saddened to hear of Don's passing; an inspirational ecologist, enthusiastic naturalist and a gentleman. He will be missed.
My condolences to all of his family at this sad time. Keeping him in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Elaine and Family,
I was very sorry to hear of the sad passing of Don. As a colleague he was a great inspiration, he possessed a wonderful mix of patience, enthusiasm, academic rigor, and always had time for students and staff alike. His passion for his field of study was an inspiration to me as a new Lecturer. Our thoughts and sympathies are with you all at this difficult time, Aodhmar Cadogan(ITSligo) and Michael Shovelin.

Sincere sympathy to Aisling and your family on the loss of your Dad, you are all in my thoughts over the coming days and weeks. May he rest in peace

I was very sad to hear that Don had passed away.
Don was my lecturer from 1988 to 1991 during which time I found him to be a true gentleman and excellent lecturer. He was a man who gave 100% to everything he put his mind to.

Don later became a neighbour of mine with us living in the same parish.

We later lost touch and met occasionally, I suppose, due to the obligations of life.

I last met Don about 2 years ago in Carney. He was going into the Chinese when I was leaving. He told me that he was battling an illness.

I remember fondly the time Don came to my 21st in 1990 and the time we went on a college trip to England and Scotland.

Mind yourself Don till we meet again. RIP

Pádraig

My condolences to Elaine, Róisín and Aisling on the death of Don. A man who cared so much for nature and our environment and who inspired us with his knowledge and teachings.Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam uasal.

Sincere sympathy to you Elaine and the extended family.. So sorry to hear of Don's passing. May his gentle soul rest in peace

We extend our deepest sympathy to the Cotton family on the death of Don.

Elaine and family,

I was very sorry to hear about Dons passing. I still meet former students and good friends who talk fondly about Don, his knowlege and his passion for teaching others about the world around us.
He captivated and inspired many young minds.
I remember as young kid getting a spin on the back of his motorbike.

May he rest in peace.

Ossian Geraghty

Deepest sympathy to all the Cotton family on the sad loss of Don.

Elaine, Roisin and Aisling

Our deepest condolences on your loss. Wishing you the very best during this difficult time.

My deepest sympathy to Elaine, Roisin, Aisling and the extended family on the death of Don. Thinking of you at this sad time.

Deepest sympathies to Elaine, Róisin & Aisling & extended family on the death of Don.

'Will this thought rise on those who will meet my face no more,
"He was one who had an eye for such mysteries"?
Thomas Hardy

Rest in peace Don

Sincerest sympathies to Elaine and all the family on the death of Don.
Mother nature weeps at your passing!
Rest in eternal peace, Don

Our sincere sympathies to Elaine and family, having worked with Don for many years, he was a true gentleman and much valued/respected colleagues. May Don now rest in peace

I was very sorry to hear of the death of Dr. Don C.F. Cotton and wish to extend my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to his beloved wife Elaine and his two lovely daughters, Róisín and Aisling, and all his family at this time of their sad grief, but with many happy memories.
Don was an excellent ecologist and diligent natural wildlife recorder in the North West of Ireland, producing many scientific papers and a wonderful website, inspiring a love of Nature in many students. He was a great friend of mine and I fondly remember many hours of productive field excursions with Don and discussions over coffee at the Institute of Technology, Sligo. On numerous occasions we called into the Thatch Pub in Maugherow, where his ebullient, friendly, predeceased son Martin, when present at the same time as my son (who was much younger than himself) graciously entertained him while playing pool.
May he Rest in Peace and be remembered always.
Bill Crowe

Please accept my sincere sympathies, I am very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. I vividly remember receiving a phone call from him in the mid 80’s offering me a place on the Environmental degree. I wasn’t disappointed, I found his lectures and field trips enthralling and I wrote down and kept everything he said.

Our deepest sympathy to Elaine Roisin and Aisling on the death of Don it's a sad time for you all may he rest In peace in his eternal home in Heaven.

Deepest sympathy To Elaine and family on the death of Don. He was a true gentleman who cared deeply about our planet. Our world will be the poorer for his passing. May his gentle soul rest in everlasting peace.