Phyllis Gloria Cohen

Phyllis Gloria Cohen, 88, passed away on August 28, 2021. She was born in Portland, Maine to Gertrude and Benjamin Rosen, a/k/a “Trudy and Benny” on November 19, 1932 and moved to Miami in 1935 with her parents and sister Betty. Phyllis graduated from Miami Senior High in 1950, when her passion for art became apparent. During high school, she worked at the Paramount Theatre selling popcorn. Her boss also owned the Beach and Olympia Theaters, and she worked there as a cashier as well. At the Olympia Theatre, her artistic talent was recognized and at Easter time, they allowed her to paint bunnies on the wall behind the candy counter. She loved recalling the premiere showing of “At War with the Army” at the Olympia Theatre when Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis arrived and waived at her (and everyone else)! She also worked as a cashier at the Deauville Hotel and found Miami Beach in the 1950’s to be an exciting place – with the limousines and interesting characters. Her best friend Barbara also moved to the beach and worked there and the two of them enjoyed taking in all the sights and walking to Lincoln Road.

She attended Terry Art School and then the University of Miami; and it was at this time she went to a singles dance at the Monte Carlo Hotel and met the love of her life, Herman Cohen. He went to Paris with a buddy that year and promised to bring her back a Paris original - which she thought would be a designer dress! Instead, he came back with a French Poodle, Suzette, and an engagement ring! They were married on November 20, 1955 at the Algiers Hotel and always joked that he took their honeymoon trip to Paris without her. Sons Marty, Bob and David soon came along; and a few years later, daughters Gail and Lori arrived and their family of 7 was complete.

A perfect stay-at-home mom and so devoted to her family; she took her children everywhere and arranged for them to participate in many activities; baseball, football, dance and piano. The family of 7 traveled abroad together every summer and friends were always welcome to the house for games and sleepovers; she was known as Phyllis “Yes” Cohen. She organized a Skipper Chuck carnival for charity in her backyard and always enjoyed herself to the fullest: playing mahjong, volunteering for Ort, going to Dolphin games and jai alai, spending time with her friends, and pursuing her artistic hobbies (painting beautiful pictures, needle pointing beaded wall art, knitting afghan blankets, and of course - creating beautiful miniature impatiens flowers and creative arrangements). She and friend Barbara spent decades traveling around the country to almost all 50 states participating in miniature shows with their dear circle of friends; and their travels also took them abroad to many different countries. She was thrilled to learn that some of the beautiful impatiens flowers she created and sold ended up in the Smithsonian in a miniature replica of the White House.

Phyllis was very proud of her children and grandchildren and her love for them and everything beautiful will live on in all of them. She is predeceased by her husband Herman, son David, grandson Michael, and sister Betty Cooper. Phyllis is survived by her children Martin (Debbie), Robert (Heidi), Gail (David) Dembrow and Lori, and grandchildren Paul, Rachel, Olivia, Nicole, Brett, Jamie, Julie, and Michele, and many loving cousins and relatives.