Phillip was my first cousin, but we did not see him very much and he was a bit older than I am and our families did not bring us together very frequently when we were children. This past August, at the wedding of our first cousin once removed, I was seated next to Phillip at the dinner. It was lovely to get to know him a bit--and to chat with him as a mature adult. In retrospect, I feel lucky to have spent a few hours with him. I am so sorry to hear of his untimely death. Condolences to Jane, Amanda, and Drew from Arlene and Rick Pincus.

Drew- Very sorry for the loss of your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Hang in there buddy.

Phil was a good friend for over 35 years, a mentor, a colleague, and a bit like an older brother to me. We met in grad school in Boston, and were in the same study group. It was there that I first encountered his quiet intelligence, his humor, and his kindness. I am so sorry that I am unable to attend his service, but I would like to tell two quick stories about him.

First, when we were in school, Phil invited me to go sailing with him at a sailing club in Boston. My experience was very limited, but I knew him to be very knowledgeable. As we approached the boat, it was raining and overcast, but he was cheery and enthusiastic. As we sailed out into Boston harbor toward the open ocean, I started getting a bit scared, as the rain really started coming down in sheets and the wind blew like crazy. But he kept me calm, and after a while we both looked like a pair of drowned rats, but had huge smiles on our faces the rest of the afternoon. He introduced me to a lifelong love of sailing and the water.

Later, after Phil and Jane had moved to San Francisco and we worked together, I remember being invited to the hospital for the birth of his daughter Amanda. I remember taking some photos (I will look for them) of Jane and then Phil holding their newborn little girl, and the look of love and joy on their faces was amazing to see. 

It was that same love of family and friends that I saw in Phil every time we were together, and what I will always remember about him.

One last thought. If you ever go to London, you may visit the iconic St. Paul's Cathedral, which was designed by the famous architect Christopher Wren, who designed many well known buildings there. Yet you will see no memorial to Wren anywhere. In St. Paul's there is only an inscription in a quiet corner that says "Reader, if you seek his memorial, look around you", meaning St. Paul's itself. I would say the same of Phil - if you seek his memorial, look around you to the friends and family that Phil has brought together and whose lives he has touched. That is his legacy.

We love you and will miss you, Phil ...

Funeral Service

Committal Service

Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Chapel

Phillip Cohen

immediate need

Death has occurred or is near

plan ahead

Pre-plan a funeral or cremation

Plan a Funeral or Cremation Default Desktop

Find Obituaries and Services

Send Flowers

sympathy and etiquette

grief library

celebrations of life

What to Say When Someone Dies

Show Your Support

Sympathy and Grief

obituary

services

memories

Obit Detail

In the care of

share to facebook

share by email

share link

Share Obituary

ideas and resources

Sympathy and Grief Mobile

OBITUARY

Phillip Kalman Cohen

December 4, 1952 – January 4, 2018

Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Chapel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services