Alexander Cohen

ALEXANDER L. COHEN Alexander L. Cohen, 92, passed away on August 8, 2022, devoted husband of Sally Cohen and devoted father to Jesse Cohen (Marcia), Randy Gillett (Karen), Ira Cohen (deceased), Gary Gillett, Julie Fehler (Peter), Josh Cohen (Debbie) and Dan Gillett (Andrea). Alex also leaves behind thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Service will be held at 12:30pm on Friday August 12, visitation starting at noon, at the Weil Kahn Funeral Home, 8350 Cornell Road, Cincinnati OH, 45249. Burial to follow at the Hirsch Hoffert Cemetery at 1405 Sunset Avenue, Price Hill, Hamilton County, Ohio 45238. In lieu of flowers, please donate memorial contributions to Etz Chaim and Wise Temple of Cincinnati. Born in Brooklyn, NY to Isaac and Frances (Latner) Cohen, Alex lived in Cincinnati with his family for 57 years, relocating with his wife Sally to California in 2018. He was predeceased by his older brother Don of Albany, NY. Alex earned his PhD in Industrial Psychology and Engineering from Penn State University, his master’s from the University of Delaware, and bachelor’s from City College of New York. Moving to Cincinnati with first wife Lynn (Brandschain) Cohen in 1961, he raised a family of four Cohens (Jesse, Ira, Julie, and Josh) in Roselawn and later North Avondale. Following a 1978 divorce, he married Sally (Manheimer) Gillett in 1979 and settled in Amberley Village. With this step, the enlarged family now included Sally’s three sons (Randy, Gary, and Dan). The Cohen-Gillett family has stayed very close over the past 43 years, but unfortunately lost son Ira Cohen in 1982. Alex excelled professionally in his career in Cincinnati as an industrial psychologist with the US Public Health Service and later the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). He earned recognition as a top national expert on noise impacts on people. He went on to broaden his professional contributions into other factors affecting human performance at work, winning several US government awards for Outstanding Service. In 1964 Alex became one of several founding members of conservative Roselawn-based congregation B’nai Tzedek where he served in various congregational board and leadership roles over the years, leading many services and delivering sermons. Later he helped spearhead that congregation’s merger with Congregation Ohav Shalom in 2015 which formed Congregation Etz Chaim. Alex’s many favorite activities included gardening, jogging, ballroom dancing, handball, tennis, home repair work, bottle cap art, travel and going to Graeters. As a former high school and college southpaw pitcher, he enjoyed throwing baseballs (he had a nasty curveball!), footballs and basketballs around with his children and grandchildren. With brother Don on the accordion, he loved singing Jewish melodies, Broadway tunes and Sinatra songs. He perennially entertained his grandchildren and great-grandchildren with children’s melodies he learned as a young child. He also loved visiting with all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren around the country, taking great pride in regular visits and attending their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, graduations from college, and weddings.

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Alexander Cohen

July 12, 1930 - August 8, 2022