Howard C Cohen

1936 - 2016
Howard C. Cohen, 80, of Pikesville, Maryland passed away peacefully on September 24, 2016, surrounded by his wife and children.

Howard was born on August 7, 1936 in Brooklyn to the late Sarah (nee Kramer) and Murray Cohen. He graduated in 1954 from Tilden High School and in 1958 from New York University School of Commerce. Upon college graduation, Howard was in the U.S. Army as an artilleryman, and was recalled in 1961 during the Berlin Wall crisis. He received his recall notice to the Army on the day he returned from his honeymoon with his bride Sandra (nee Schumsky), to whom he was married for 55 years. A tried and true New Yorker with a trademark Brooklyn accent, Howard spent more than 60 years in the Big Apple, half of which were in Long Island where he and Sandra raised their family. They moved to Maryland in 2000, where he embraced the Orioles and Ravens while remaining loyal to the New York Mets and Jets. His other favorite activities included traveling abroad with Sandra and visiting art museums, and he had a keen interest in history, the Civil War in particular.

While Howard was most proud of his family, he also had a long and accomplished career in healthcare management, working for several decades for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC). During his tenure at HHC, he was Senior Vice President of its Southern Manhattan Network, Acting Vice President of Finance, and held positions at several City hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital and Bronx Municipal Hospital Center. Most notably, Howard successfully served 15 years as Executive Director of Coney Island Hospital, where he was recognized for bringing together diversified sections of the community, receiving commendation from the Anti Defamation League. In 1992, Howard obtained a State Department grant through the American International Health Alliance, and traveled to the Ukraine to help their health care system to establish clinics in medically under-served areas. After moving to Maryland, Howard was Chief Administrative Officer of the nonprofit People's Community Health Center, and a healthcare consultant for the State of Maryland Department of Health before finally retiring in 2013.

As a volunteer, Howard was Chair, National Association of Public Hospitals; served on Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island; a docent at the Jewish Museum of Baltimore; and, passionate about animals, he was a supporter of The Humane Society.

In addition to his wife Sandra, Howard is survived by his daughters Janis Schlerf (Rodd) of Baltimore, and Terri Young (Brad) of Atlanta; son Steven Cohen (Carrie) of Washington, DC; his younger brother Gerald Cohen (Rochelle) of Howard Beach, NY; and his sister-in-law Vivian Siegel (Jerry) of Syosset, NY. He was also the beloved "Papa" to five grandchildren: Matthew and Elizabeth Schlerf, Michael Cohen, and Joshua and Anna Young.

Private funeral services will held Monday, September 26, 2016. Contributions in his memory may be sent to the Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St. NW, Suite 450, Washington, D.C. 20037.