William Cohn

William Herbert “Bill” Cohn died on August 8, 2016. Bill was born in Kansas City, Missouri on January 2, 1924 to Meyer and Sophie Cohn. He was predeceased by his sisters Reva Kaplan and Sonya Cooper. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute before serving with the Signal Corps in Puerto Rico during World War II. During the war, Bill came to Little Rock on furlough and finally met Mary Louise Schweig face to face after being pen pals for five years. Married in 1946, Bill and Mary Lou reveled in 70 years of a blessed marriage. They settled in Louisville, Kentucky where Bill was the vice president of marketing of Dispensers Optical Service. They became the joyous parents of two sons, Dr. Mark Cohn (married to Susan) of Issaquah, Washington and Cantor Sanford Cohn (married to Beth Polebaum) of West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1989, Bill and Mary Lou retired to Little Rock, where they were surrounded by a strong and loving family who all mourn the passing of their patriarch. Bill celebrated a lifelong love of the arts. An accomplished artist, he delighted in painting, drawing, and designing his whole life. He loved to sing and dance and perform. He was an active and devoted member of Temple B’nai Israel. An ardent swimmer, he was the self-proclaimed mayor of the Little Rock Athletic Club. He will be remembered and loved every day by his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law, his grandchildren Adam, Maya (married to Mark Hasson), Shoshana, Aryeh, and Gavriel and great-granchildren Siena and Ezra Hasson. Graveside services will be at 9:30 a.m. today (Tuesday) at Jewish Oakland Cemetery followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at Temple B’nai Israel with Rabbi Barry Block officiating. The family will receive visitors following the service at the temple. Donations of sympathy may be made to the Music Fund of Temple B’nai Israel.