Mitchell S. Cohen

Dr. Mitchell S. Cohen of Lexington, MA died on October 18, 2022 at the age of 91, of pancreatic cancer. Mitchell was a singular, innovative and brilliant person, with a lifelong passion for learning and teaching. He had many achievements due to his drive, hard work, focus and strength of will.

Mitchell was born in Scotia, NY on November 8, 1930 to Elias Israel Cohen and Eva Orlen Cohen. He studied physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and obtained his PhD in Engineering Physics from Cornell University. He had a productive career as a research physicist, working at various institutions including MIT’s Lincoln Labs, several startup companies, and 25 years at IBM; filing 37 patents, publishing 55 papers, and making contributions in the areas of magnetics, ink jet printing and fiber optics.

Mitchell and his wife Bonnie Rose Cohen née Liveson were married for 53 years, and raised two daughters, Tamar and Deborah, while living in Millwood, NY. They were observant Jews, active in the reform Jewish community and founding members of their local synagogue as well as multiple Torah study groups. They enjoyed the countryside around Copake, NY where they kept their vacation “chalet,” a small A-frame on a pond.

Mitchell and Bonnie returned to Massachusetts where Mitchell eventually retired at the age of 75. Mitchell continued his education in a program hosted by Harvard and became fluent in French and German. He self-published four books, including short stories and a memoir. He and Bonnie enjoyed extensive travels around the world, and Mitchell shared his love of the outdoors with his family through frequent hiking and camping expeditions. He was an avid daily runner and walker throughout his life.

At the end of his memoir, he wrote: “I have had a very full and meaningful life filled with achievements and loving relationships far beyond anything imagined in the wildest dreams of my boyhood, and I am content to follow Bonnie into eternity.”

Mitchell was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Bonnie. He is survived by his daughter Tamar Cohen, her husband Don Gates and their son Alden Gates of Oakland, CA, as well as his daughter Deborah Russell, her husband Nicholas Russell and their daughter Cordelia Russell of Berkeley, CA. He is also survived by his sister Arden Rauch and partner Ellen Fladger, brother-in-law Avi Liveson and wife Linda Regan, 8 nieces and nephews, and 15 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Donations in Mitchell’s memory can be made to the Jewish Combined Philanthropies or the National Academy of Sciences.