MELVIN S. COHEN
Melvin S. Cohen, formerly of Worcester and most recently a resident of Linwood, N.J., died Monday, Jan. 11. He was 94.
Cohen was the executive director of the Worcester Jewish Federation for 26 years until his retirement on July 15, 1981. In this capacity, he was responsible for raising and distributing charitable funds for more than 50 local, national and international nonprofit organizations, including the United Jewish Appeal, United Way and others. Cohen also was active in a number of professional associations on a local and national level. He was former conference chairman of the National Association of Jewish Community Organization Personnel and served on its board of trustees. He was chairman of the National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts State Council of NASW Chapters and chaired the Central Massachusetts NASW Chapter.
Cohen received many professional honors. At the celebration of Israel’s 50th anniversary in Jerusalem in 1998, he received the Retiree of the Year Award from the Association of Jewish Communal Professionals. In 1982, he received the Brotherhood Award from NCCJ. In 1981, after Israel normalized relations with Jordan, he was one of two small groups allowed to cross into Petra, Jordon, on horseback.
After retiring, he worked for 12 years as the New England regional consultant for CJF in New York City, and later was a volunteer for the Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties’ Campaign.
Cohen received a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s of arts degree, both from Boston University. Following active service in the U.S. Third Army during World War II, he received a certificate from the University of Nancy in France after completion of a course of studies in modern French literature offered through the U.S. Armed Forces University Program.
In the European theater, Cohen, as a member of the 65th Infantry Division, the so-called “Spearhead Division” for General Patton’s Third Army, crossed the Rhine and Isar rivers in 1945 and made contact with the advancing Soviet Army in the vicinity of Strengberg, Germany. His platoon liberated a concentration camp during its lighting campaign across Europe.
Melvin Cohen was predeceased by his wife Sue in 2008. He is survived by his sons; Bernard (Linda) Cohen, Frederic (Rozalyn) Cohen and Gerald (Ruth) Cohen, his brother, Nelson (Adele) Kern and his beloved grandchildren, Scott (Dr. Heather Clark) Sherwood, Chad (Kiara) Sherwood, Rachel (Marc) Kennedy, Jonathan Cohen, Natalie Shapiro, Adrienne Shapiro, Sara Cohen and Molly Cohen and he is also survived by 5 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Thursday, January 14, at Beth Israel Cemetery in Egg Harbor Township. Arrangements were by ROTH-GOLDSTEINS’ MEMORIAL CHAPEL, Atlantic City.
