Michael Neely Coltman, 74, of Reading, MA, passed away suddenly on August 4 during a bicycle ride with his wife in Tiverton, RI. A dedicated engineer, he worked for 40 years at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, focusing on railroad projects and mentoring younger engineers. Active in his community, Mike volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouting, and the Reading Food Pantry, and was passionate about sports, coaching youth soccer and fostering a vibrant pickleball community in Reading.
Born in Hartford, CT, in 1951, Mike earned his mechanical engineering degrees from Tufts College and married fellow engineer Judith Neely in 1986. They raised two sons and shared a love for board games, hiking, bicycling, and water sports. He is survived by his wife, sons, brother, and extended family. A public celebration of his life will be held on August 14 in Reading, with donations suggested to local charities in his memory.
