STEVEN ALAN COHEN

COHEN, Steven Alan Steven Alan Cohen passed away on October 3, 2021 in Portland, ME in the comfort of his loving wife and three children. Affectionately referred to as "Rocky," "Dad," "Papa" and "Steve," he was a thoughtful and adoring husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. His curiosity, steadiness, and warmth will be missed dearly.

Steve was born on February 26, 1946 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA to Raymond L. and Marion R. Cohen. He was raised in Providence, RI and studied Journalism at Boston University College of Communication. Steve had an impactful career in journalism at United Press International in Washington, D.C., the Associated Press in the Washington and Boston Bureaus, and the Cape Cod Times. He also spent time at Brandeis University as the director of public affairs and as a consultant for national writing competitions for many years.

Steve loved being a journalist. He took great pride in truths uncovered by his investigative reporting of key political and social issues, including South Boston busing violence, anti-war riots in Cambridge, and money laundering related to Nixon's reelection campaign. Additionally, he wrote many editorials, short stories and poems. His most recent work can be viewed on the online platform, Medium.

Steve was a longtime resident of Orleans, MA where he raised his family. He was an accomplished woodworker, tinkerer and fixer of all things broken (tangible and not). His favorite pastime was enjoying a pipe in his workshop, mending a household item or building toys for his grandchildren. Steve also enjoyed playing his banjo and guitar and listening to his favorite blues and folk artists, including the late John Prine, Mississippi John Hurt, and Mance Lipscomb.

More than anything, Steve loved his family. He is survived by his wife, Valerie Cohen of Orleans, MA; his daughter Sara Masterson and her husband Jeffrey Masterson of Scarborough, ME, his daughter Rachel Cohen and her husband Michael O'Brien of Needham, MA and his son Sam Cohen and his wife Mary Iaculli of Portland, ME. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren Grace and Jamie Masterson, Charles and Matthew O'Brien, Eila, Isaac and Silas Cohen.

A Memorial Celebration will be held in Orleans during the summer of 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to The Center for Public Integrity at https://publicintegrity.org