Persily, Coleman was born on the 13th of March 1916 in Perth Amboy, New York. He refined his organizing skills as a child on the streets of New York. At 12 years, he spoke to an estimated 20,000 people and led a march to City Hall demanding unemployment insurance. As a teenager, he organized high school students to demand recreational facilities at schools, led a strike against his uncle who owned a sewing shop, and was part of a group of young men who moved people who were evicted back into their residences.

As soon as he was old enough to get a passport without parental permission, he enlisted in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. He served in a French Unit of Heavy Artillery with 155mm Guns. Then, he was transferred to the John Brown Battery where he served as telephonist and observer. He was one of the last Americans to leave Spain, on the 4th of February 1939.After the war, Coleman moved to East Los Angeles and found work in the shipyards. He later joined the Merchant Marine and served as Seaman until 1948, when he became a life insurance agent.

Coleman became active in Democratic Party politics and was elected president of the 40th Assembly District California Democratic Club representing East Los Angeles. During this period Coleman organized to get Edmund Roybal, the first Mexican-American City Councilman, elected.

Coleman moved to San Rafael in 1960 and helped organize the Canal Community Association. He also organized the Tenants Association of Marin and served as its chair. In this role, he organized strikes against high raises in rents. He ran for San Rafael City Council to get a forum to raise the issue of rent control.

After retirement, Coleman continued to organize on behalf of people's issues. He was also active in the Bay Area Post of the VALB. He died on the 7th of February 2007, in Marin County, California, at the age of 90.