I worked with Roger for many years at the scorers table at Rutgers Basketball games.  Roger was a joy to work with.  I never met a friendlier, kinder, more supportive person than Roger and I would be remiss not to mention his great sense of humor.  He was both a mentor and a friend.   He will be missed dearly.  RIP

I will always regard Roger Cohen as one of the best colleagues a faculty member could have at Rutgers or at any University. He was a font of optimism who was an inspired teacher, mentor, and contributor to the University in a multitude of services. He was quick to volunteer when needed and never asked for anything in return. I met Roger when our departments merged many decades ago. He was remarkable for separating fact from fiction and had a marked impact on his students who would follow him from class to his office. He was quick to help students get interviews for professional positions. He was the only faculty member I knew who openly asked that salary increases favor those who were underpaid and in need. I had been head of the faculty union and served as chief contract negotiator. Many times, I would tell university faculty from other departments and campuses that they needed to be less selfish and more like Professor Roger Cohen. It is not often that we get to meet someone like Roger who -- in every encounter -- lifts our spirits and reaffirms that we need to think of the greater good before we think of ourselves. Roger’s impact on his colleagues and students – and on Rutgers itself – will always be treasured.  

Classmate and friend, even if he was a Sammy. The voice of Rutgers. May his memory be a blessing.

Gus Friedrich
Colleague

I met Roger in 1998 when I came to Rutgers as Dean of his School. I knew him as an exemplary department chair, teacher, colleague, and valued member of the Rutgers Community, especially all things athletic.  He will be missed and remembered. My condolences to his family and friends.

 My condolences to all of Roger’s loved ones.  It sounds like there are many of you.  This doesn’t surprise me about Roger.  My memory is from a sliver of time in Roger’s life from 8th grade.  We sat next to one another in class.  I was relatively new to PS 13 and I had a difficult time while there..  But returning to school after summer break, I found myself sitting in front of Roger.  He was such a sweet fellow.  We laughed together, enjoyed each other and his being Roger was great for me.  And so, it left me with fond memories of that young boy, who was to grow into quite a remarkable, loved  and accomplished man.


My favorite lifetime memories are the wonderful times I shared with Roger and Debbie and the rest of the Cohen family. He will be missed. My deepest sympathy to the entire family at this difficult time.
Love to all,
Linda Sancton Goldman

I met Roger in 1962 when we both joined Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity at Rutgers. Subsequently, I found out that we were distant cousins from his relationship with the family of my Aunt, Lois (Stave) Goodkind. I continued to see him whenever I was back in New Jersey for sporting events, reunions and other functions. He was a warm and friendly person with a constant smile and a good word.

Roger was a friend to WRSU and a mentor to dozens, maybe hundreds, of the lives he touched.  May his memory be a blessing.

I'm so sorry and sad to hear that Professor Cohen has passed.  And with great regret and remorse, I wasn't one of those who was lucky and smart enough to stay in touch with him over the years.   I rushed through Livingston and graduated in 3.5 years in '81.  Met Roger at RU hoop games and I think we connected through sports.   Learned how to type fast (and so much more) in his broadcast news writing course.   The personal impact he had  on me and the mentorship he provided cannot be put into words.  I recall how fearful I was of not landing a required internship,  With his guidance, I landed two offers, including the one that led to a long career in sports production.  I will never forget:  I approached him one day after class to question a grade of B on a writing assignment that I must have thought was great.   He kind of laughed, told me not to worry about the grade, and explained to me that I was not being graded against other students.  I was being graded against myself.  Said he thought I had the ability to do better.  Like so many others have noted, Roger was not just an outstanding teacher and giving mentor, but also such an inspirational person and a lighting rod to the success of so many people who were fortunate to call him Professor and friend.   RIP.  

I remember Prof. Cohen. While I wasn’t his student,  I recall how liked and respected he was. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him. 🕯

Ronny Glassman
LC ‘81

He was the nicest person and the best teacher. So saddened to hear of his passing. I hope he knew how many careers he launched and how many students appreciated his classes. 

We were just so saddened to learn of Roger’s passing.   Several of his former students, including myself, are producing a film about the 1982 Rutgers Women’s Basketball team, and we were just so fortunate to have found some of his TV play by play calls from that season.   

We were in touch with Roger as recently as last January.  He was so excited to hear about the film’s progress, and was touched that his highlights would be a part of it.  We were so looking forward to sharing the film with him.   

We all held Roger in such high regard.  He was one of the most brilliant professors and more importantly one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet.  For me personally, he was a mentor and I always considered myself lucky that I had the chance to be a teaching assistant in his radio production class 40 years ago.  So his passing has hit us all hard.  

We thought you all might enjoy hearing some clips of Roger and his play by play partner from that time, the late Lou Brogno.   

https://youtu.be/yflbAKluRrA

We send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.  



Roger was an incredible force for all things Rutgers and for his family.  He's touched so many lives.  May his memory be a blessing.

Roger was a great guy with such a positive attitude. We played baseball together at Eastside and his enthusiasm wanting to win was contagious to the whole team !!  He will be greatly missed by everyone. RIP friend !!   Paul Reilley 

Mr roger cohen was a very 
Nice gentleman to me known family for a very long their daughter put up with her husband and I for many years loved them like another family to me up in heaven with my dad now 

Forgive me for the long note but it’s a tribute to a man I am forever grateful for knowing. Roger Cohen was my college professor,  advisor, and mentor.  After graduating  from Rutgers in 1990, we never lost touch. During our calls, he seemed as proud and excited as I was for the work I was doing. He always cared to know the who, what, when, where and why of my broadcast news career. He had the consummate broadcasters voice, had a remarkable career and I was grateful that he showed any interest in mine. Even in his last years, he would call and offer support and advice.  He battled serious health issues for nearly a decade but that doesn’t lessen my sorrow for his wife, Debbie, his children and grandkids, nor the loss all the other Rutgers journalism alums are feeling tonight. So many of us knew him as much more than a journalism teacher. As a junior in college, he supported me leaving the New Brunswick, NJ campus and taking an internship at ABC News in New York when most students took local opportunities. A few months later, when they offered me a full time position, I couldn’t imagine postponing my academics, and delaying graduation. He essentially said, “What, are you crazy?” I took his advice. Then, a year later, I was singularly focused on attending graduate school at Columbia University in NYC. He told me that I should broaden my horizons, leave the northeast and consider Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism instead. I did. It’s impossible to measure how my life was impacted by any or all of these decisions he shaped, but I am certain Roger’s guiding hand made my life richer. Much more importantly, I know exactly how less fulfilling and incomplete my life would be if Roger wasn’t in it. We will honor him in the morning, and I will never forget his generosity.

Professor Cohen was an inspiration for my journalism career. He was patient and knowledgeable and taught me the skills to pursue a writing career. His kind demeanor and helpful ways was just what a student fresh out of high school needed to gain confidence in the field. Please accept my sincere condolences on your loss but be heartened knowing that Roger was liked by everyone in my class.

I became acquainted with Roger at the first conference for student journalists in New Jersey, and I was immediately impressed with his passion for all the good things that fine journalism could do.  He was very friendly, warm, and a strong advocate for students rights, and though it has been many years, the effect that he had on journalism in the state of New Jersey is enduring.
Bill Ehrlich

I am very sorry to hear of Roger Cohen’s passing and for your family’s loss.

When I was an undergrad, Prof. Cohen was the first person to suggest I would be good at voiceover work and provided me opportunities through the university to work on my craft both on and off camera. The skill sets I learned are still instrumental in my career today.

He was a great cheerleader of student talent and a wonderful man. 

Jill Horner,
Rutgers Class of 2000

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Roger Cohen

12 décembre 1943 – 18 juillet 2022

Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels

Montrez votre soutien

Envoyez Vos
Condoléances

Partager
L'avis De Décès

Obtenir les mises à jour