Roy Allen Cohen

Roy Allen Cohen, beloved father, husband, grandfather, uncle, and friend, age 87, of Lake Worth, Florida, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023. Roy was born in 1935 in Port Chester, New York, and grew up in Union City, New Jersey, with his older sister Beatrice Sumliner and parents Bernard and Essie Cohen. At age 14, he was sent to Stevens Institute for an aptitude test that recommended he pursue a career in accounting. Roy graduated from Rutgers School of Business in 1957 and received his C.P.A. certificate in 1961.

Roy served in the U.S. Army, graduating from the Army Finance and Controller School in 1958. After being reassigned to the Army Civil Affairs Unit in Kearny, NJ, where he continued his service, he was honorably discharged in 1963. He received a degree of Master of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1968, where he later taught Accounting as an Adjunct professor. Roy, as a partner of the Fort Lee, New Jersey accounting firm Auerbach, Scura, Cohen & Baum, LLC, provided tax, accounting, and consulting services to individuals and privately held businesses for over 50 years before he retired at the age of 75. In 1981, Roy was named Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce’s “Man of The Year'' – a well-deserved honor for someone who was respected and admired by his longtime clients and community.

Not only was Roy successful in his career, but he was also prosperous in his personal life. In 1959, Roy met Adrea on a double-blind date, but she was not with whom he was set up. In 1961, he married Adrea, his beloved wife for 45 years, with whom he had two beautiful daughters, Pamela and Bonnie. Roy was a devoted husband and a very dedicated and loving father. Roy worked many hours as a CPA, so when he was off work and with family, he always lived life to the fullest and had a good time! Every summer he enjoyed vacationing with family and friends in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. He loved planning vacations and traveled the world on over 54 cruises. His hobbies included video recording vacations, family milestones, dance recitals, researching and purchasing electronic gadgets, and tailgating at football games as a Rutgers Scarlet Knight football fanatic.

After Adrea’s passing in 2006, Roy was fortunate to fall in love again with his wife, Myra, whom he had known for over 60 years. With Myra by his side, Roy relished being a retiree. He enjoyed going to shows, traveling on cruises, socializing with friends, canasta and poker nights, and spending time with his grandchildren, Jade, Aidan, and Evan. In his retirement, Roy developed a new passion as the moderator of the Jewish Heritage Club Movie night, where he facilitated over 70 Jewish Film screenings and discussions where he would often receive a standing ovation of applause. When he wasn’t busy researching and preparing his movie night talks, attending performances, dining out with friends, or shopping online, you would often find Roy in his recliner, watching a Rutgers Scarlet Knights football or basketball game.

In his golden years, Roy often reflected on how fortunate he was to have such a wonderful life. Roy is survived by his wife, Myra; his beloved daughters, Pamela Cohen Polifron and Bonnie Cohen Lafazan; son-in-law, Ryan Lafazan; his much-loved grandchildren, Jade Polifron, Aidan and Evan Lafazan and Myra’s children, Lori and Toni Gould, Gail and Eric Goldfarb, Mark and Andrea Sommer, and Myra’s grandchildren, Alexander, Jackson, Joshua, Matthew, and Benjamin. Predeceased by his wife, Adrea Cohen, and sister, Beatrice Sumliner, Roy also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Miriam Nochimson, his beloved nieces, nephews, and treasured friends.

The funeral will be held Friday, January 13 at 11:30 am at the Gutterman and Musicant Funeral Home (402 Park Street, Hackensack, NJ), followed by burial at Riverside Cemetery in Saddle Brook, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roy’s memory may be sent to The Rutgers University Foundation “Football Program” by check payable to the Rutgers University Foundation, PO Box 193, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0193, or by credit card via the link: https://give.rutgers.edu/FootballProgram, indicating in the bottom section that the gift is being made in memory of Roy.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.guttermanandmusicant.com for the Cohen family.

Shiva will be observed on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the Clubhouse, at Summit Hill Apartments, 100 Stonehill Road, Springfield, NJ, from 5:00pm - 8:00pm and minyan services at 7:00pm.