Gerald ‘Jerry’ Cohen, 83 years of age, of West Hartford, Old Saybrook and Delray Beach, FL, beloved husband for 58 years of Merle (Clymer) Cohen, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, with his family at his bedside. Born in Hartford, he was the son of the late Hyman and Lena (Kotkin) Cohen. Jerry proudly served his country during World War II as a US Marine. He joined his father and brother in the family business, the former Euclid Pharmacy in Hartford. He was a Master Mason, a distinction he shared with his father and sons. He cherished life to the fullest from spending summers at Chalker Beach to traveling the country. He loved passionately and was deeply loved. He had a wonderful sense of humor and always made people smile. His deepest source of joy was his wife and family. He will remain deeply loved and respected. Besides his wife, he was the loving father of Alan F. Cohen and his wife Suzanne of West Hartford, Michael B. Cohen and his wife Jan of Avon, Rena Citron and her husband Michael of West Hartford, Gene Cohen of West Hartford, and Lori Cohen and her husband Andrew Gray of West Hartford; Zayde to eight grandchildren, Shelly Schaffer and her husband Brian, Noah Citron and his wife Linda, Elizabeth Citron, Melissa and Jonathan Cohen, Alexandra Gray, Daniel and Julia Cohen; and great-grandfather to Gabrielle, Bella and Emma. He also leaves many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was predeceased by his brother Newton Cohen.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 17, 2009 at 11:30 AM in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with interment in Beth Hillel Synagogue Cemetery, East Granby. A memorial period will be observed Friday following the funeral, Saturday evening beginning at 7:30 PM, and Sunday 2-7 PM at the home of Rena and Michael Citron, 194 Mohegan Dr., West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity Jerry supported, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 659 Tower Ave., 1st Floor, Hartford 06112 or to a charity of the donor?s choice. For further information, directions or to share memories of Jerry with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.
