I lost my mom, Felicia Cohn, on Wednesday, April 3, at 86. Family and friends were with her during her last days, and she left peacefully. She was an extraordinary woman who dealt with all the joys and tragedies one faces in life with grace and courage. She was loved and respected by her family, friends, and colleagues too numerous to mention.

Mom always had my back, especially during the most difficult periods in my life, and I never doubted her love, or her joy in seeing me grow into the person I’ve become. She was equally proud of my late and incredibly gifted brother Matthew, lost so many years ago to the same terrible illness.

She loved my amazing wife Sandra, without whom I could not have managed even the simplest task these last weeks. Mom took great pleasure in seeing our kids grow into wonderful adults, and we all knew how proud she was of each and every one of them. She was so proud of her grandchildren Benjamin and Matthew Cohn, and John, Alex, and Gordon Cathcart. She loved our dogs, Bindi and Obi, and often referred to herself as their grand-dog mother.

Felicia’s bonds with her extended family were so very close, including her sister Cheryl, her late brother Sherwin, her cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as with her good friends and colleagues on Long Island. I want to thank all of them for their help, their care, their support during these difficult last months. I know the pain I feel is shared by all who knew and loved her.

Felicia was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1937 to Harry and Mildred Steinberg and grew up in nearby Haverhill. She attended Radcliffe as an undergrad where she met my late father Alfred Cohn in the Harvard/Radcliffe orchestra. They graduated in 1958, and I came along in 1961, with my brother following 4 years later. She raised us as a traditional 1960s stay-at-home mom, before working as a paralegal then earning her MSW at Adelphi University in 1979 and becoming a LCSW in 1982.

As an MSW and LCSW, she worked into 2024, helping countless patients in a career spanning some 45 years, including families and victims of 9/11. Her intelligence and empathy for others suited her well in helping those facing their own struggles.

Lastly, thank you all of our friends, near and far, new and old, for being there for us, we treasure you all.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Lung Association at https://www.Lung.Org. They do a good job of making sure money goes to research.

Thank you,

Jeffrey Cohn