Victor Cohen

Entered into rest on July 4, 2008. Son of the late Dora (Baker) and Louis Cohen. Beloved husband for 66 years of Estelle (Kudroff) Cohen. Born in Lynn, MA, his family moved to Schenectady, NY where he attended high school and college. He worked his way through college by working weekends at the General Electric and enjoyed telling of his walking over 20 miles each day as a watchman there. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Union College in 1938 and sent off only one application for law school - to Harvard Law - and was accepted. Soon after graduation from Harvard Law School in 1941, Victor and Estelle met and married. After the birth of their first two sons, Victor decided that he wanted to specialize in corporate and tax law. While working full time, he attended and graduated from Bentley College, completing a five year night program in three years and attaining the highest grade in the graduating night class. He also received the highest marks in the state when he sat for the Certified Public Accounting exam that year. He went on to become the managing tax partner at Grant Thornton, a national CPA firm, until his retirement at age 70. He continued managing personal estates until the age of 91. His professional career included 33 years as the past president of the Boston Tax Council, two years as president of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, and ten years as a governor appointed member of the Massachusetts State Board of Public Accountancy, appointed first by Governor Dukakis and then by Governor King. He declined a third appointment because he and Estelle began to spend six months of the year in Florida. He was, additionally, moderator and lecturer for over 30 years at Massachusetts and Federal tax forums held at Northeastern University and Bentley College. Victor's commitment to philanthropy and community service is as notable as his professional accomplishments. He was president for two years of the Jewish Rehabilitation Center in Swampscott, MA, and remained until now a member of the Board of Directors. His contributions to the JRC were extensive and a lifelong passion. Of note, he was pivotal in raising the funds to add the second floor to the building, personally raising almost a million dollars for this project. He and Estelle were honored in 2003 at the JRC's Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner for their lifelong contributions. In their recognition, they were acknowledged as "long-standing, enthusiastic and devoted supports of the frail elderly, and of the JRC." In addition to his contributions to the JRC, Victor served on the Board of directors of Congregation Ahabat Sholom in Lynn, and was instrumental in establishing their endowment fund. He was the recipient of the Ben Gurion Award for the sale of Israeli Bonds. He and Estelle were founders and first co-presidents, for three years, of the Greater Lynn Club of Florida, an organization of over 400 members who had an affiliation with the Lynn, MA area, and who spent time in Florida during the winter. Victor served as the treasurer of this organization for nine years. Victor and Estelle were also co-presidents for two years and he treasurer for 5 years of the Baystaters of Rainberry Bay, where they resided in Delray Beach, Florida. He was an elected member of the Board of Directors at Rainberry Bay for 2 years as well. Victor, a leap year baby, celebrated his 23rd birthday this past February 29th with a dinner party in his honor attended by both family and friends. He is survived by Estelle, his loving wife of 66 years; three sons, Steven Cohen and his wife Arlene of Needham, MA, Paul Cohen and his wife Kathy of Shelburne Falls, MA, and Gary Cohen and his wife Cheryl of Swampscott, MA; eight loving grandchildren, Andrew, Matthew, David, Lisa, Michael, Ariel and her husband Tomas Gonzalez, Autumn and her husband Jonathan Silverstein, and Willow and her husband Adriaan Tuttman; and two great grandchildren, Ethan and Phineas Tuttman. He is also survived by his sister, Rita Berzof of Springfield, VA, two nieces and two great nephews. He lived in Lynn, raised his family on Brooks Terrace and on Robin Lane in Swampscott, and resided in Salem and Delray Beach, FL. He most recently resided at Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA. He was strongly devoted to his wife and family and loved the time he spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty Street, Danvers, MA 01923 or to the Jewish Rehabilitation Center of the North Shore (JRC), 330 Paradise Road, Swampscott, MA 01970. Funeral Services will be held at Stanetsky-Hymanson Chapel, 10 Vinnin Street, SALEM, MA on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 11:00 am. Immediately following internment, respects may be paid at the Catering Room at the McIntosh Club House at Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA. Additional calling hours will be at the home of Gary and Cheryl Cohen, Swampscott, MA, on Sunday, July 6th from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm and Monday, July 7th from 3:00 - 5:00 pm and from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.