We are sad to announce the death of longtime congregant Alvin Cohen. Dr. Cohen died on Feb 17 at the University of Maryland Regional Medical Center in La Plata. He was 83 years old. The service and interment were held on Feb 19.
Dr. Cohen was born on June 30, 1931, in Washington, D.C. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Cohen; his sister Phyllis Kirson; daughter Dr. Beverly Hoy and her husband, Kirk Hoy; daughter Hilary Cohen; grandchildren Samuel and Olivia Hoy.
In 1996, Dr. Cohen retired from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., after 34 years as a professor of economics, dedicating endless hours to improve the Lehigh community. Throughout his career at Lehigh, he studied the economics of Latin American countries. He served as president of the Middle Atlantic Council for Latin American Studies and was also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (Business Honor Society), the Business Association of Latin America, the American Economic Association, and the Latin American Studies Association.
Dr. Cohen’s resume boasts many accolades, including three Fulbright scholarships and various grants from the U.S. State Department. Dr. Cohen earned his first Fulbright scholarship in 1957 to research economic growth of Chile at the Universidad Nacional de Chile in Santiago. He founded Lehigh in Guatemala and directed it for five years. This summer program gave Lehigh students the opportunity to study in a foreign country while learning about economics. He also taught classes on the economics of the Czech Republic in Prague for several summers.
Dr. Cohen’s academic accomplishments have been coupled with personal triumphs, as he was a survivor of colon cancer. His courage in overcoming his illness and his work as faculty advisor for Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity and later Zeta Psi fraternity led to the establishment of the “Good Scholar Election” at Lehigh University which over several years raised over $600,000 for the American Cancer Society. In addition, Dr. Cohen was a longtime classical musical enthusiast who donated his original 1,000-album collection to Lehigh University in 1991 and donated his collection of 1,500 CDs to the College of Southern Maryland in 2006.
After his retirement from Lehigh University, Dr. Cohen kept very busy. He spent his time reading books, listening to classical music, playing bridge, and supporting Congregation Sha’are Shalom. He also continued to answer many questions on Jeopardy and spend time with his family. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Sha’are Shalom or to the American Cancer Society, Bethlehem, PA 18017.