Alton R. "Altie" Cohen

I'll add to my earlier remembrances ones that are influenced by my becoming a teacher. Now that I am immersed in genealogy, I remember another lesson of Mr. Cohen's - that family names have meaning. In particular I recall his noting that the suffix "-man" indicated the family's ancestral line of work. As with so many of Mr. Cohen's lessons, it fell outside the curriculum, but fed our wonder and curiosity.
Then there was the time Mr. Cohen posed the question of how one could equitably...

Hello Daddy. I know you're resting beautifully and peacefully. I love you.

I have so much I want to say, but, I am overwhelmed by feelings of loss. I stumbled upon this obituary searching for a photo of Mr. Cohen to use in a presentation about my formative years. Everything I have, everything I've done, all that I am is due to this man. I know his name is Alton, but, for me, and all his other students, he will always be "Mr. Cohen."

I was in his class for 5th Grade and 6th grade at Kenter Canyon (1964-65.)Those years with Mr. Cohen mean more to me than any...

I was a student of Mr. Cohen in 5th grade at kenter canyon some 36 years ago, i can remember with great fondness Mr. Cohen, his great stories on WWII, like 21 eggs, his reading Huckelberry Finn and playing MLK speeches. He was one of my the most influential and memorable teachers i have had in my life. Only the fondest memories.

As kind, and nice a man as there ever was.
RIP Altie

Im typing with tears in my eyes. I was one of mr cohens first black students Iwas bussed from 69-73. He made me feel so welcomed. RIP.....TONIA THOMAS-NWACHUKU

It was only last month that I learned Mr. Cohen’s first name which then led me to learn of his passing. I began my quest to find him too late to thank him directly, but in learning the story of his long, productive, and loving life, my grief was overwhelmed by joy.
I can’t say how many times, since I was in Mr. Cohen’s 4th grade class, I have thought about him and the lessons that he taught me. That was, I think, in the spring of 1953. Mr. Cohen’s class was magical and we, his students,...

Mr Cohen was my 6th grade teacher in 1967. I still remember his love of the beach and his tales of life as a soldier in World War II. I have never forgotten what he taught me

MY FAVORITE TEACHER. ALTIE COHEN:


WITH BERL AT HIS SIDE, AND A RADIO BESIDE THEM IN THE SAND; HE PLAYED A SUN-TANNED ROUND OF “NAME THAT TUNE” WITH A BISSEL OF “BEAT THE BAND”-

HE COULDN’T HELP BUT SWOON WITH IDDIE BY HIS SIDE, AND HE NEVER MISSED A CHANCE TO LAUGH WITH ALL OF US, WHILE TELLING HIS TRUTHS ABOUT ALL THE WORLD’S LIES-

A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER AND FULL-TIME YID THROWBALL PREACHER, ALTIE ALWAYS TOOK THE SCENIC ROUTE TO HIS JOKE’S FINAL DESTINATION: THE...