Gerald E. "Jerry" Cohen, son of Philip (1911-1984) and Edna (Rosenberg) (1912-1981) Cohen, was born 7 February 1942 Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He graduated in 1959 from Okemos High School. Gerald died from complication of diabetes 3 November 2002 Ingham County, Michigan. He was interred, as were his parents, Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham County.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 4 November 2002
COHEN, GERALD E. (JERRY)
EAST LANSING, MI
Our dear husband and father, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family on November 3, 2002. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 7, 1942. He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna; father, Philip; daughter, Lori; and stepmother, Ethel Wolfe, all of whom he has joined. He as a courageous person with a great sense of humor even while fighting complications from diabetes over the last seven years. He was a graduate of Okemos High School, Class of 1959 and was instrumental in organizing the class reunions. He retired after 32 years from the Michigan Department of Transportation Design Division. He was a well-known local wedding and portrait photographer and a member of Professional Photographers of American, Wedding and Portrait Photographers of America and Mid-Michigan Triangle Professional Photography Association. He enjoyed custom cars and drag racing. He truly loved his 1958 Chevy and was heartbroken when he had to sell it. Many thanks to those who brought it to the hospital and took him for a ride in it again. He was also an avid bowler and lover of fifties rock and roll. Jerry will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 31 years, Phyllis (Kaplowitz); daughter, Renee of Seattle, WA; son, Matthew (Shannon) of East Lansing, his brother, David (Carol) Burke of VA; step-brother, Alan (Gail) Wolfe of Okemos; and special friends, Cantor Pamela Schiffer, Vicki Rayl and Daralyn Brody. He is also survived by loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Many thanks go to the caring nurses and staff of Ingham Regional medical Center and the staff at Mid-Michigan Regional Dialysis Center and Hospice House of Mid-Michigan. Thanks also to Dr. Hourani, Dr. Miskell-Simmons and Dr. Woltman, who helped over the last 15 years. Pall bearers are Gary Boynton, Forest Fickes, Ronald Horowitz, Edward Kessler, Gordon Toffler and Alan Zohott. Honorary pallbearers are: Richard Dunham, Marty Farrel, Mark Kaplowitz, Paul Love, Al Rubin, Mike Schreiner, Bob Zuver and the Okemos High School Class of 1959. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2002 at Congregation Sharey Zedek, 1924 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, with Rabbi Morton Hoffman and Cantor Pamela Schiffer officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.