Friends and family are in mourning today, experiencing the December 25th death of Dr. Richard J. Cohen, an esteemed member of the medical community in San Francisco at age 82.
A proud native of Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Cohen earned his A.B. degree at Columbia College in New York before entering Medical School at the State University of New York's Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. He interned at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. before coming to San Francisco for a residency in Internal Medicine with sub specialty training in both Hematology and Medical Oncology at Letterman Hospital. He was sent to Vietnam in 1965, serving as Chief of Medicine at the 17th Field Hospital in Saigon, receiving a Bronze Star for bravery.
After being invited to join a consultative and teaching medical practice in 1967, he continued to practice all three of his medical specialties until retirement in 2011. Especially renowned as a teacher to his peers and generations of residents and fellows in training, he delighted in giving the Sherlock Holmes lecture every December, teaching the art of deductive reasoning while dressed in a frock coat and deerstalker hat. In 2005, he was awarded the Charlotte Baer Award, the highest honor bestowed by UCSF to a member of the Clinical faculty.
Emanating from his days in Brooklyn as a Dodger fan, he transferred his allegiance in baseball to the SF Giants, becoming a "Balldude" where he gleefully tore off his signature bow tie in the locker room to change into his full uniform which was emblazoned with Doctor C #18, which is "Chai" in Hebrew, or "Life."
The love of his life was his wife of 59 years, Dr. Sandra Cohen, whom he met under incredibly romantic circumstances while a senior at Columbia and she was a student at Barnard. He was thrilled when she earned a Ph.D. degree from UC Berkeley and began her practice of Psychology. Survivors include his wife Sandra, their son Aaron of Berkeley, daughter and son-in-law, Eve and Keith Cohen-Porter of Denver, Colorado, his adored granddaughters, Thea and Bailey, and sister Hilary Mikoll (Gary) of Colorado.
A memorial service on Friday, December 28th at Sinai Memorial Chapel is planned at 11:00AM. Contributions in Dr. Cohen's memory may be directed to Congregation Beth Shalom, 301 14th Avenue, San Francisco, where he served a term on the Board of Directors.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Dec. 27 to Dec. 28, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Cohen

Sponsored by Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha.

9 Entries

Diana Friedlander

April 24, 2020

Dr. Cohen saved my life when I was 29 years old. I was at SF Children's Hospital for a simple sinus surgery. I woke up and blood was dripping down my throat and out of my nose. After about an hour I was taken back into the OR for additional packing in my sinuses. My surgeon could not stop the bleeding and it became an emergency. I started to feel very weak from blood loss and told my surgeon, "You have to do something!" Thank G-d he called Dr. Cohen who I believe was Chief of Staff at that time. Dr. Cohen told the surgeon to give me a medication through my IV which stopped the bleeding immediately. I still needed two blood transfusions and was in intensive care for 3 days. I followed up with Dr. Cohen in his office a few weeks later and he ordered very specialized blood coagulation studies. He discovered that I have a rare bleeding disorder and told me exactly how to proceed throughout my life with surgeries, childbirth, etc. It's been nearly 30 years since this happened and I still hand all of my doctors Dr. Cohen's letter to me explaining my bleeding disorder and how to treat it. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to Dr. Cohen for saving my life and for protecting me from future hemorrhaging. He was the most important doctor in my life and I will never forget him.

Kenneth Darr

November 10, 2019

Dr. Richard J. Cohen was my physician and a friend for over 15 years. I am sadden to learn in November 2019 that he passed in December 2018.
A fantastic physician who dealt with my few medical issues, but kept me as a patient during this period. I remember dr. COhen as a true medical professional, detailed records, always a 360 complete assessment of any medical situation and a person who was sincere, faithful, research to find the answer and time to address your concern. I know Dr. Cohen is continuing his journey in a wonderful spirtual path.

George Vlantis

April 2, 2019

Dr. Cohen treated me for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma when I was 25 in 1982. After being cured, he was my Primary Care Physician (PCP) until he retired.

I always enjoyed his positive disposition, and we had several interests in common: SF 49ers; SF Giants; and laptop computers. (The first IBM PC was launched in late 1981. Whenever my colleagues and I built a new laptop computer, Dr. Cohen was eager to check it out.) In later years, Dr. Cohen genuinely looked forward to my appointments, probably because I was one of his longest surviving cancer patients.

I am sorry I did not learn of his passing until today (April 2, 2019). He was kind, a hard worker, a savior to his patients, and generous with his time teaching at UCSF. He is missed.

Ferris Crane

January 6, 2019

My sincerest and deepest sympathies to Dr. Cohen's entire family.

Although it was 30 years ago since I was treated, I still remember him well. He was funny and practiced the art and science of medicine. I used to read the new research in medical journals that was related to my case then swamp him with questions when in his office. He told me that if he had me and another similar patient in one day, he would have to be taken out on a stretcher! Despite answering my questions very scientifically, I had a glimpse of Dr. Cohen's spirituality when he once commented on
G-d's will. In retrospect, I must have been a magnificent annoyance. Consequently, it was a tremendous surprise when one day he turned around and gave me one of his pens, which I still have. It has always been treasured but will be even more so now.

May his whole family know that he will be remembered for a long, long time. May you all be conforted. Love to all.

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Elizabeth Muth

January 4, 2019

My sincere condolences to Dr. Cohen's family at his passing. He was my hematologist for years. He was a warm, caring and wonderful doctor with a wonderful sense of humor. He was definitely a favorite of mine. He shall be missed. May he rest in peace.

Pamela Jeffre

December 29, 2018

Dr. Cohen was my oncologist when he treated me for breast cancer in 2003. Thanks to his care, I'm still cancer free. He was the most caring and compassionate doctors I have ever experienced. Dr. Cohen used to send me my lab reports and would hand write me encouraging notes on them with one of his beloved fountain pens. I kept all of his paperwork and recently had it scanned into my current medical records. My current physician was amazed at his detailed record keeping!
My sincere condolences to his family. But please be comforted that your father and grandfather's spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of the lives he touched.

Candace Kahn

December 28, 2018

I last saw Dick at Bar Mitzvah service of my great-nephew last fall. I
I could tell he was quite ill, and that it was a great effort for him to attend Saturday services. It looked courageous to me.
One of my main recollections of Dick is of the many years that my late husband, Harry Kahn, and I sat near Dick and Sandy at Series J S.F. Opera performances in the 1980's and 90's. His excitement about new productions and singers was infectious, and added to the excitement of the performances.
My first and most important interactions with Dick was when he a member of the team that treated my husband in the late 1970'a and early 80's. Harry was only 35 at the time, but deathly ill. Dick and the others saved his life on multiple occasions. He went on to live another productive 30 years due to the team's efforts. Thank you, Dick.
I am making a donation to the Education Department of San Francisco Opera in Dick's memory.
Candace Kahn

Myrna Margolin

December 27, 2018

Sandy, My heart goes out to you and your family. Richard was such a good friend and doctor to Fred, and the times we four spent together, though too few, are remembered fondly by me. Especially our day at a Giants game, and at our 40th anniversary party. May Richard' s memory be a blessing. He was a mensch. My deepest condolences.
Myrna

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