Joseph Patrick Cotter, a retired New York City Police Lieutenant and longtime Westchester County resident, died of congestive heart failure at his home in Yonkers on Sunday morning, December 27.   He will always be remembered for his endearing wit and love of New York City.   He was 79 years old. Mr. Cotter was born on March 18, 1930 in the Bronx, New York to Henrietta and Thomas Cotter.  He attended New York City public schools and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 during the Korean Conflict.  After an Honorable Discharge as a Corporal in the Military Police  serving in Germany, he pursued a career in New York City law enforcement following two older brothers.   Achieving one of the highest test scores for NYC Patrolman, he entered the Police Department in 1955, progressed over the years to the rank of Lieutenant and retired after 25 years of active service across NYC, including Greenpoint, Parkchester and Harlem.   While a policeman, he matriculated at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he earned a BA degree.   He retired from the NYPD in 1980.    He successfully pursued a number of second careers which included security management; he also became a member of the Screen Actors Guild during his brief film career in Hollywood. Joe, also known as “Silk”, was a loving father and grandfather and is survived by his three children, Joseph W. Cotter and his wife Lydia of New York City,  William T. Cotter of Jakarta, Indonesia, Dianne L. Ledingham and her husband, Bill, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and also by his long-time companion, Francine Damsky.   He was one of seven children and is also survived by his sister, Ellen Burton, his twin sister Margaret Kold,  his ex-wife of 26 years, Diane Cotter Liesching, his five beloved grandchildren:  Lauren, Christie and Will Ledingham,  Liddy and William Cotter, and eleven nieces and nephews.   He was predeceased by his four brothers: John, Thomas, Raymond and Robert Cotter. Calling hours will be at the Fred H. McGrath & Son Funeral Home, 20 Cedar Street,  Bronxville, NY from 6-9 pm, Wednesday, December 30th.   The funeral mass will be at Annunciation Church, 470 Westchester Avenue, Crestwood, NY at 10:00 am Thursday, December 31st.   He will be buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY, a home run away from Babe Ruth’s gravesite.  
Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to NYPD Emerald Society, 97 Fleets Cove Road, Huntington, NY 11743, Attn: Scholarship Committee in Memory of Lieutenant Joseph P. Cotter.