Obituary of Wilfred S. Cohen

Wilfred S. Cohen, 94, of Coburg Village, passed away peacefully at Ellis Hospital on Thursday, November 20th. Bill was born in Brownsville (Brooklyn), NY, on February 7, 1914, the son of the late Joseph and Annie Cohen. The highlight of this childhood was spending summers at his grandparents' farm in Burlington, Vermont. Bill was only thirteen years old when he started helping his father on weekends in the penney arcade business. He graduated from Boy's High School in Brooklyn in 1932. Bill worked three summers as a bell hop in the Catskill Mountains and at the 1938 World's Fair in New York City. He attended Pace Institute during the evenings. When finances prevented him from completing college, he applied to work in a small Pearl's Department Store chain. He was married to his beloved wife, Frances (Cohen) Cohen on August 20, 1940. They spent the of their life in retail, managing and running several Pearl's Department Stores including Keeseville, N.Y., and. beginning in 1966, the Village Bazaar in Keeseville, Rouses Point and Port Henry. Bill was active in community service. He served on the school board of Keeseville Central School. As president, he was instrumental in the merging of Keeseville with Ausable Forks District into Ausable Valley Central School. He was active in Kiwanis, serving as lieutenant governor of the regional organization for several years. He was honored with the Liberty Bell Award for Public Service in 1983. He also served as coroner of Essex County for over twenty years and served as president of the NYS Coroner's Association. Bill and Fran retired in 1983.. Through 2006, they spent their time between their cottage in Willsboro NY and their home in Florida. In 2006, they moved to Coburg Village in Rexford to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Besides his wife, Bill is survived by his beloved children, Laura Appel, Surprise, AZ; Jay (Leslie) Cohen, York, PA; Marilyn (Larry) Shapiro, Clifton Park; and Roberta (Emil) Chiauzzi, Acton, MA, eight grandchildren, David (Shannon) Appel, Jennifer Appel, Seth (Marcie) Cohen, Eric (Jennifer) Cohen, Adam Shapiro, Julie (Sam Massman) Shapiro, and four great grandchildren, Morgan, Danielle, Jordan Cohen and Matthew Cohen, and a sister, Pearl Eichler, and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his sister, Nesbeth Hurwitch. Services at Congregation Beth Shalom, 688 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, on Sunday, November 23, at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions be sent to Congregation Beth Shalom or a charity of one's choice. The period of mourning will be observed at the residence of Marilyn and Larry Shapiro on Sunday and Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call. Directions to Congregation Beth Shalom, Northway (I-87) to Exit 9 Clifton Park, West, towards Schenectady. Take Route 146 WEST past malls, Shen High School and Shen Methodist Church. (aprox. 2-3 miles) At Cumberland Farms, make left onto Vischer Ferry Rd. Drive straight onto Clifton Park Center Rd.and traffic light.(.75 miles) Take right onto Clifton Park Center Rd.. Synagogue is on left aprox. .3 miles from corner. Directions to MARILYN AND LARRY SHAPIRO's, 4 Devon Ct., 371-3373 0r Marilyn's cell 859-6774 Northway (I87) to Exit 8: Vischer Ferry Rd. From South: at exit, take a left onto Crescent Rd. Fron North: at exit, take a right onto Crescent Rd. Go 1.4 miles to traffic light at the intersection of Crescent Rd. and Moe. Landmarks, you will pass a CVS on the left, a Stewart's and Sunoco on the right, further down the road, Okte Elementary School and a Lutheran Church on the right. At the light, take a left onto Moe, an immediate right on Macintosh and an immediate left on Grissom Drive. Follow Grissom to Devon Court making a left on Devon Ct. 4 Devon Ct is the first one on the right on the cul de sac. Grey with blue shutters, two car garage.