Jacob Leonard Cohen

Jacob L. Cohen was born on May 1, 1909 and died on March 26, 2012 at the age of 102. His parents Joseph and Jennie (Joondeph) Cohen who both emigrated from Russia at about the turn of the 20th century to New York and eventually to Nesquehoning, PA where they operated a dry goods store. There, sister Bertha (Zoole) who died in 1991, and Jacob were born.

After graduating from Nesquehoning High School, as Valedictorian in 1927, he enrolled at Penn State with a Senatorial Scholarship, graduating in 1931 with a degree in Commerce and Finance. He worked in State College, and taught classes at the College until June of 1935 when he obtained a job with the Internal Revenue Service and took training in Texas.

He was assigned to work in Wichita, Kansas, and invited Audrey Moore, form Berwick, PA to join him there and get married. She took the train from Harrisburg, PA and they were married August 31, 1935. They celebrated 75 years of marriage before her death in March, 2011.

After three years in Kansas, which included the birth of twins on October 24, 1937, the family relocated to Forest Hills, NY, and Jacob accepted a job with Fred Waring as Controller. Mr. Cohen worked for, or with, Fred Waring for the rest of his career. A daughter, Eloise, was born on September 17, 1940 in New York.

In 1941 the family moved to a house in Dumont, NJ, and Murphy (as Audrey called him) commuted to the city, and also worked for Brewster Aeronautical during WW II. He established an accounting practice with Philip Becker in New York City.

In 1949 Fred Waring Enterprises was established in East Stroudsburg, PA and Jacob became Treasurer. The family moved to Stroudsburg, where Murphy and Audrey lived for the next fifty years, the children graduated from high school and college, married and each had two children.

In 1956 Jacob established the J.L. Cohen Public Accounting Firm in Stroudsburg which grew and became recognized in the community, eventually employing over 20 men and women. He was also asked to join the Boards of the YMCA, the Pocono Hospital, Rotary (where he was a Paul Harris fellow and a 50 year member), Community Chest of Monroe County, Stroudsburg Area Torch Club, Eastern Monroe Public Library Foundation, Stroudsburg Board of Education, Lehigh Valley Chapter of PA Institute of CPAs, a 50 year member of the Mason Pocono Lodge #780 and was president of most at one time. He was also a member of Temple Israel.

In 1975 he retired from the Accounting practice but remained active as Manager of Real Estate Partnerships, financial planning and community Board work until 1999 when he and Audrey moved to the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, PA. There they were active going to plays and concerts and playing Bridge, until her health failed.

Survivors: his three children are Michael (wife Vivian) of Whippany, NJ and Marie (husband David Boltz) of Lower Saucon Township, PA, and Eloise Falleder (husband Arnold) of New York City. Grandchildren are Cynthia Boltz Coutsouros (husband Gus) of Mt. Kisco, NY; Susan Boltz Gaynor (husband Thomas) of Whippany, NJ; Andrew Cohen (and wife Robin) of Herndon, VA; Sarah Condron (husband Enda) of Bronxville, NY; Samantha Berman (husband Marc) of New York City; and Gussie Singer (husband David) of San Francisco, CA. Great-grandchildren are Anthony and Theo Coutsouros; Ryan and Gwyneth Gaynor; Mariposa, Naomi and Jude Condron; and Alison Bermon. Nieces and nephews include Richard and Charles Hyman, Carol Moore, Leah Ziskin and Janet Miller.

Services will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at noon in the Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home, Inc. with interment following in Laurelwood Cemetery, 901 Bryant Street Stroudsburg, PA.

Flowers are omitted and the family requested contributions be made to the Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 North 9th Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home, Inc., 27 Washington Street , East Stroudsburg, PA18301. www.lantermanallenfh.com