Marilyn Lou Cohen

Marilyn Cohen, age 93, of Boulder, CO passed away in peace on October 8, 2023. A professional choreographer, dancer, and teacher, Marilyn danced with joy well into her ninth decade.

Marilyn was born to Lois (Pansy) and Glenn Chambers on June 22, 1930, in Aurora, Illinois. Her love of dance was soon obvious with young Marilyn dancing ballet on toe at the age of five. Missy Swanson, a neighbor with no children of her own, took a keen interest in Marilyn and supported her passion by paying for dance classes and taking her on excursions to Chicago for tea and the ballet. Marilyn was very close to her big brother Bob, a talented singer -- together they shared an appreciation of the performing arts.

At the age of 16, Marilyn’s ballet career was cut short when she tragically contracted polio. As so many others of that era, her movement was severely impacted with protracted stays in the hospital, at home respite, and several surgeries to help her damaged arms and legs. Marilyn tenaciously worked in her recovery using muscles in her feet to compensate for her weakened calves.

Through the support and encouragement of her mom, Marilyn attended the University of Illinois. When taking a general movement class, the professor, Mim Rosen, encouraged her to pursue dance studies. Marilyn explained her limitations and inability to perform ballet, especially on toe. The professor then introduced her to an emerging art form -- modern dance – and Marilyn’s love was reignited! She graduated with the first class of Dance majors.

Dance was still a new academic discipline relegated under Physical Education, but Marilyn learned of a new academic study of dance being formed at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She wrote a letter expressing interest to the department head Charlotte Irey. Impressed by Marilyn’s initiative and obvious sense of humor, Charlotte hired Marilyn as a full-time dance instructor (sight unseen).

Marilyn began her new life in Boulder, a place she would love and call home for the rest of her life. Though she dated several young men, friends introduced her to Phil Cohen. Phil was an unusual match as a 6’3” Jewish boy from Boston for Marilyn, a 5’2” shiksa from the Midwest.

Marilyn was drawn to Phil due to his athleticism and loved watching his movement and athletic grace, especially when playing baseball. Both had a great sense of humor and were unconventional, breaking from their traditional backgrounds. Sitting in the Commons in Boston on a trip East, Marilyn said to Phil, “You know if we get married, together we would make over $6000 per year!” They eloped a few months later in 1954. So would start a partnership and romance that lasted close to 65 years.

Marilyn had a rich and full career at the University of Colorado as a dance instructor. She studied with titans of modern dance such as Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon, Murray Lewis, and Doris Humphrey. In 1993 she officially retired from the University of Colorado but did not stop dancing. She continued her creative work, notably with Metro State University choreographing several musicals. In all she created well over a hundred performances from musical theater to opera. Her shows were always marked by humor and the ability to bring out the best in her dancers. Marilyn was a University of Denver Legends of Dance ( https://specialcollections.du.edu/object/d1b67fd3-36c6-4b5e-9fae-1186e37b60ab#?c=&m=&s=&cv= ) honoree in 2005 and the MSCD Theatre and Dance Department also awarded her with a Cornerstone Award in 2013 for her contributions.

Marilyn’s sense of design and aesthetics extended to music and the visual arts. She created a home full of beauty. Her spiritual world was tied up in music, light, design, and movement.

Marilyn lost her beloved husband Phil in 2019 and her son Brad in 2011. She is survived by her son Bruce, daughter Lisa (with whom Marilyn had a very special bond) and their families. She will be greatly missed. When asked about her life, Marilyn said “My life, it seems, was so easy. I fell into this job, then I fell into Phil. Things just seemed to fall into place.”

For those who wish, Marilyn would appreciate donations to The Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Department of Theatre and Dance. https://www.msudenver.edu/theatre-dance/donate/ .