Obituary of Alvin M. Cohen

Alvin M. Cohen, age 88 of Albany, NY died on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at his residence. Born in Utica, NY on October 1, 1925, he was the son of Lillian Strosberg. He attended Albany Public Schools and Philip Schuyler High School. He served in the NYS Guard, the US Coast Guard and was drafted into the Army. After infantry training at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas, he served overseas as a rifleman assigned to the 90th infantry Division Company M. 359th Infantry Regiment He volunteered for machine gun platoon and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Alvin was later reassigned to the 1st Infantry Division, 26th Regiment, Company D at Nuremberg guarding war criminals at the war trials. Alvin was the recipient of many military awards including the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle East Medal, Army of Occupation Germany Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Three Battle Stars for Ardennes- Cenral - Europe -Rhineland. Other awards include the NY State Conspicuous Service Cross, the NY State Service to Aid Civil Authority Award and the NY State Long and Faithful Service Award. He worked for Susser's Sporting Goods for over fifty years retiring in 1992. Alvin was also co founder of Hudson Valley Chapter # 49 Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge where he served as President from 1997-1998, a member of the Combat Infantry Association, Jewish War Veterans Post # 105 where he served as past Senior Vice Commander, the VFW Sheehy Palmer Post #6776, the 90th Division Association, Temple Israel, Independent Benevolent Society, Past Chancellor Commander and member of Albany City Lodge # 540 Knights of Pythias,and the Tri County Council Vietnam Era Veterans. Alvin was one of three main characters in a book titled "Into the Dragons Teeth". He was also awarded the Partners in Education Award by the Capital District Council for the Social Studies and served as the Grand Marshall for the 2011 Veterans Day Parade. He is survived by his wife Jean Pearlman Cohen, and a son, Lawrence (Karen) Cohen of Bloomfield, Ct. Grandfather of Risa, Jared, Andrea (Howard) Anger and Robert (Debbie) Rosen. He is also survived by three great-grandsons. Services at the Levine Memorial Chapel, 649 Washington Avenue Albany on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 2:00pm. Interment with military honors will follow at The Independent Benevolent Cemetery in Guilderland, NY The period of mourning will be observed at the Cohen residence, 38 Joanne Ct in Albany on Thursday following the service of interment, Friday day, Saturday evening, commencing again on Sunday through Wednesday. 2 Memorial contributions may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or the Community Hospice of Albany, 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.