Marilyn Cohler

Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Jacob David Dixler and Gussie Rheingold Dixler, Marilyn demonstrated exceptional academic ability from an early age, skipping two grades and starting Rockford College at age 16. She later transferred to Northwestern University, where she met her husband, Edmund Cohler, then a doctoral student — beginning a love story that would span more than seven decades.

Married at the Belmont Hotel in Chicago in 1952, the couple soon settled in Boston, where Marilyn worked as an organic chemist at Polaroid Corporation and contributed to the development of a patented blue color film. She later devoted herself to raising their three children: Geoffrey, Andrea, and Jonathan.

Once her children finished high school, Marilyn pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. She returned to school full-time, and earned a Doctor of Psychology degree at age 54 from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (now William James College), proudly embracing the title of Dr. Cohler. As a clinical psychologist, Marilyn practiced until retiring at age 85. Throughout her lifetime Marilyn helped and supported countless friends, family members, and clients through listening, counseling, and often philanthropy.

Marilyn was an avid reader, and an accomplished bridge player (recently winning the silver championship trophy at her duplicate bridge tournament). She loved spending winters in Florida, and traveling the world to five continents with Ed, often accompanied by their dear friends Ruth and Harold Bernstein. She was fiercely proud of her three children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was predeceased by her beloved older sister, Tobia Leader (Robert), and her niece Judith (Leader) Kuhn.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 73 years, Ed; her children Geoffrey (wife Mary), Andrea Gary (husband Kenneth), and Jonathan (wife Fudeko); her five grandchildren: Marissa D'Isidoro (husband Richard), Justin (wife Marguerite), Emily Stellato (husband Daniel), Sydney Gary, and Yuga (wife Hillary); and most notably by her four great-grandchildren Francesca, Christopher, Ren, and Josephine. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jessica (husband Edward), her nephew/nieces George, Laurie, and Shira; her grand-niece/nephews Jared, Jessica, T.J., and Carson; and her cousin Paul (wife Joyce).

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, 11 AM, at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 1668 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the American Friends of Magen David Adom (savinglivesinisrael.org).