Rev. Normand Côté ’52

Rev. Normand Côté, Plattsburgh, NY, died February 8, 2024.

Fr. Côté had resided in Plattsburgh since his retirement in 2003.

Born in St. John’s, Quebec, he was the third of six children. His family left Canada for the United States in September of 1929, and he attended grammar school at our Lady of Victory Academy in Plattsburgh and high school at St. Edmund’s Junior Seminary in Swanton, VT. His first two years of college were spent at Saint Michael’s. He then went to Bourget College in Rigaud, Quebec, to study philosophy. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in November of 1953.

Fr. Côté began his seminary studies at Holy Apostles Seminary, La Prairie, Quebec, in 1954. He completed his seminary studies at the Grand Seminary of Saint Sulpice in Montreal, Quebec. On May 31, 1958, he was ordained in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.

He celebrated his first Solemn High Mass at his home church, Our Lady of Victory in Plattsburgh. He then began his priesthood as parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Church in Clayton, followed by time in that same role at St. Augustine’s Church in Peru, St. Bernard’s Church in Lyon Mountain, Notre Dame Church in Malone (temporary assignment), Holy Name Church in Tupper Lake, Church of the Holy Family in Watertown, St. John the Baptist Church in Keeseville, and again at St. Mary’s Church in Clayton.

In June of 1969, Father Côté was named pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in LaFargeville. He later served as pastor of St. Therese Church in Newcomb and St. Joseph’s Church in Coopersville, with a brief period of service as a special assistant at St. Mary’s Church in Champlain.

Father Côté retired in 2003.He is survived by extended family.