FRANCES COHEN-KNOERDEL

COHEN-KNOERDEL
FRANCES W.
Age 78, of Peters Township, on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Survived by her husband Frank Knoerdel; her sons Michael (Cynthia) Cohen of Florida, grandson Theodore (Joanna) Cohen of Virginia; David (Alisa) Cohen of Washington, and grandson Benjamin; Thomas (Deborah) Cohen of Virginia, and grandchildren Patricia and triplets Nicole, Bradley and Charles. Her stepsons: Christopher (Mary) Knoerdel, grandchildren Jessica (Jason) Scribner and Logan Ricks, all of California; Mark Knoerdel of California and granddaughter Angie (Jer) Yamaguchi and great-grandson Kyle; Jonathan (Sabi) Knoerdel of Oklahoma, and granddaughters Ambyr (Jimmy) Dick and great-grandchildren Stacye, Jordan and James; granddaughter Jessica Knoerdel; and granddaughter Juli (Moe) Jahed, the daughter of Harry D. and Kimberly Stott. She was preceded in death by her only sibling Lawrence White of Virginia in 2007. While an undergraduate at Vassar, she married John H. Cohen. Jr., father of their three sons, who passed away in 1985. She enjoyed telling of unborn Michael causing a commotion under her graduation gown as she reached for her diploma in 1956 at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University). Her first born, Michael came forth August 1. Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, Frances was the daughter of Arthur J. White and Katharine Elkus White. Ms. White was named Ambassador to Denmark by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964; and was granddaughter of Abram J. Elkus, Ambassador to Turkey under President Wilson. Frances was honored for outstanding service on the Board of Directors of Blue Cross of Western PA from 1971 to 1985; received the William Van Essen Award for distinguished service on behalf of the visual welfare of the public by the W. PA Optometric Society. She became interested in nonprofits while volunteering for the Pittsburgh Counsel for International Visitors (now GloblPittsburgh); from there became Executive Director of Pittsburgh's fledgling Kidney Foundation; then to Executive director of South Hills Family Hospice from 1982 to 1986 and ultimately served as Executive Director of St. Clair Hospital Foundation until retirement in 1991. Early in her career, she was an enthusiastic mentor of young business women. She was a founding member of the Executive Women's Council, Greater Pittsburgh, for young professionals striving to establish legitimacy in Pittsburgh's business community. She was a driving force in Planned Parenthood. Her natural organizational ability and metric "get out there and ask for a donation - it's for the good of the students" tenacity led to leadership positions in the local Vassar Club and for several reunions, including the 50th and 55th, was fund and/or reunion chair of her Vassar class of 1955. Frannie has also responded enthusiastically in support of The Neighborhood Academy which provides opportunities for higher education for Pittsburgh's poor children at risk. Frannie and John became host families to foreign students attending Carnegie Mellon. Two young men from Finland, Esko Kervinen and Ari Vepsalainen, studying for graduate degrees became frequent guests, and were quickly "adopted" as family. Suddenly she had five sons. This rich, close relationship has rewarded all families with participation in numerous fun and benchmark events between Finland and the USA. Her formula for relaxing was to retire to her kitchen and create delicious jams and relishes, which she happily gave to friends; her product outstanding enough to earn the title "Grandma Pickle" from grandson Bennie. A lady who couldn't wait to host the next party, she was well organized enough to prepare everything ahead of time so she could mix with and entertain guests. A veritable magician in the kitchen, friends remarked that her make-things-happen imagination let her set out culinary classics from refrigerator leftovers. Frannie traveled extensively, visiting children throughout the USA. Most recently she gloried in the majesty of the Canadian Rockies. Foreign destinations included many capitols of Europe, her special favorite, Paris. As a lets-just-have fun golfer she challenged Pinehurst, NC, Monterey's Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Spanish Bay, San Francisco's Harding Park and recently the British Open Championship course at Turnberry, Scotland. In lieu of a memorial service, family and friends will hold a Celebration of Life for this fine lady in February. Friends wishing to make donations to Frannie's memory are requested to consider their favorite charity or to contact Vassar: Annual Fund, Vassar College, Box 725, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, or The Neighborhood Academy, 709 N. Aiken Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Arrangements entrusted to FREYVOGEL - SLATER FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 112 Fort Couch Road, (opposite Macy's South Hills Village), Bethel Park.
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