Jerry A. Cohen, 98, of West Hartford, died peacefully with family by his side on January 30, 2019. The son of Adolph and Rose (Gutensky) Cohen, he was born August 9, 1920, and grew up in the Parkville neighborhood of Hartford above the Madison Avenue Market on Kibbe Street. Jerry and Libbian (Cohn) married in 1951, and raised their family in West Hartford for 67 years.Jerry was a graduate of the New Park Avenue School, Hartford Public High School, Yale University (Class of 1941), and University of Pennsylvania Dental School (1944). He served in the World War II Army Dental Corps as a captain. After the War, he opened his dental practice on Hartford’s Albany Avenue and later in Bishop’s Corner, West Hartford. He was a past officer of Congregation Beth Israel and active member of its Torah Study, the West Hartford Regents and its bowling group, Yale of Club of Hartford, Parkville Men’s Club and Treasurer of Yale Class of 1941. For years, he volunteered for Loaves & Fishes, Hebrew Home, and JFGH Children’s Reading Partners at West Middle School. He played bridge, pinochle, and cribbage, passing on his skill to his grandchildren. For 50 years, he made pickles that he freely gave to anyone who would return the jar. He was a life-long Yankees and Yale football fan. Sports stories and statistics were his forte.Jerry was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his wife Libbian; his children Sharon (David) Hessney, and Adam (Cindy) Cohen; brother Milton Cohen; grandchildren Jonathan and Ethan Hessney and Rachel Cohen and Josh Cohen; and two great-grandchildren Leo Cohen and Esther Lai Hessney. He was predeceased by his sisters Mildred Levenson and Beatrice Rabitz. He was predeceased by his close friend Perley “Red” Putnam, who introduced him to baseball, and procured his first job – batboy for the Savitt Gems.
The funeral will be on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at 1:00 PM at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, with Rabbi Michael Pincus officiating. Interment will follow at Beth Israel Cemetery, Affleck Street, Hartford. The family will observe Shiva through Tuesday as follows; Sunday following the interment to 5:00 PM with a Minyan at 4:00 PM at Congregation Beth Israel; Monday and Tuesday 3:00-5:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM at the family residence, 6 Whetten Road, West Hartford.. Donations in memory of Jerry, may be made to the Congregation Beth Israel, or to the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, or to the charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements provided by Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford.
