Cote Reese

Cote Reese passed away peacefully after ten days in Kaiser Oakland Hospital on Friday, June 21, 2024 surrounded by loving family.  He would have celebrated his 79^th birthday on August 10^th.  Cote’s prostate cancer had metastasized to his bones and the attempts that were made to improve his condition were unsuccessful.  It was important for those who dearly loved him that he was kept out of pain to the end.

Cote was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Mary A. Coté and Robert T. Reese.  Cote’s father was an oral surgeon in the Air Force.  Cote spent his formative years living and surfing in Waikiki because his father was stationed in Hawaii during Cote’s formative years.  When Robert was reassigned to Fort Worth, Texas, Cote joined his family to finish his undergraduate degree at the University of North Texas and then went on to the University of Southern California to obtain his degree and license in dentistry.

It was in 1965 at UNT in Denton, Texas that Cote met his spouse Carole (Clark) Reese who had come from California to join her family for the two years that they spent there.  The two fell deeply in love with each other.  Cote’s pet name for Carole was “Kayroll” and they later adopted her childhood nickname “Cookie”.  Although the two ended up separated by time and space for a number of years, they renewed their love in the early nineties and exchanged vows in 1996.  In the intervening years, Cote fathered Mejia (Reese) Graves and “Kayroll” was honored to become her loving mother.  In addition, Cote opened his arms and heart to step-daughter Tania Trépanier (1971-2003) and step-son Numa Trépanier.

Professionally, Cote was the self-proclaimed “King of Dentures” (confirmed by countless patients).  Cote and Cookie operated City Dental in downtown Oakland until their retirement in 2018, providing dental healthcare to a largely disadvantaged community.

Music was the creative focus of Cote’s life.  His primary instrument was the piano, although he excelled at others as well – accordion, baritone ukulele, bass, drums and vocal arrangements.  He performed regularly in a number of groups, sometimes getting to play some of his original compositions.  In addition to the music that was integral to his life and relationship with Cookie, “C&C” were dancers favoring West Coast Swing and Zydeco.  One of their most memorable dancing experiences came only six months before Cote’s death when they were given a standing ovation at a venue in Waikiki dancing the West Coast Swing to Mustang Sally – Cote loved telling that story.  Adding to all his skills, Cote was a clever cartoonist, a prolific gardener and could tell a joke that would leave people belly laughing.  His sense of humor was boundless.

Cote’s love for his family was undying.  He will be forever cherished by the love of his life Kayroll/Cookie/Carole; daughter Mejia; step-children Tania Trépanier (he is surely singing and dancing with her now) and Numa Trépanier; grand-children (love you “Dogie”) Isaac, Mila and Livian Trépanier, sister Donella (Reese) Vogel and her husband Tony Vogel; sister-in-law Linda (Clark) Jones and her husband Phil Jones; sister-in-law Kami (Clark) Griffin and her husband Pat Griffin; loving nieces Erin and Nealy and their husbands Blair and Jake, all of whom were also in Cote’s presence as he passed on.  Cote will be remembered by his adoring cousins who are spread across the country.  His absence is profoundly felt by so many friends, colleagues, fellow musicians and the many who crossed his path – his interactions with people were always memorable.

A Celebration of Cote’s Life will be held in September.  Please reach out to family members for details.

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