|
|
Ralph Cohen dies at age 76
 Former Metro Councilman Ralph Cohen By JENNIFER PRICE For The Tennessean Heart attack claims former councilman; services today (Wednesday, January 12, 2005) Former Metro Councilman Ralph Cohen, a businessman well-known for his devotion to his west Nashville neighbors, died of a heart attack yesterday. He was 76. Mr. Cohen served on the council from 1980 to 1987. After winning the District 24 Metro Council seat in 1983 by only one vote, he printed bumper stickers that said, ''ONE VOTE DOES COUNT.'' ''He made significant contributions for the city of Nashville,'' said former Nashville Mayor Richard Fulton. ''I remember him quite well on how he responded to the people's needs in the Charlotte Avenue area of Nashville.'' Mr. Cohen owned Cohen Do-It-Yourself-Plumbing & Electric at 4908 Charlotte Ave. and was working at the store yesterday, a Metro spokeswoman said. Cohen's store played a key role toward redeveloping the Charlotte Avenue strip. He was also an advocate for continuing education. ''Ralph was always warm, caring and an enthusiastic person that wanted to make things work in the most possible way,'' said Jim Polk, community education coordinator for the Cohn Adult Learning Center. ''He was an anchor for many people in west Nashville through community involvement and his business.'' Mr. Cohen served as chairman of the Community Education Program for the Adult Learning Center, which offers education programs such as high school classes and GED programs to adults. Although Mr. Cohen was very outspoken politically, his colleagues respected him. ''He might have disagreed with a few things I believed, but he represented west Nashville well,'' said David Scobey, who was vice mayor when Mr. Cohen was on the council. He was active in the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, campaigned for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, and was co-founder of the James Robertson Museum. ''He played a hero here in west Nashville,'' Polk said. ''Councilman Ralph Cohen has probably done more for west Nashville than has been done in the past half century,'' author Sarah Foster Kelley wrote in her 1987 book West Nashville, Its People and Environs. Kelley cited Mr. Cohen's help with revitalizing the Richland Park Business District, renewing Richland Park and widening White Bridge Road. He was carrying on a family interest, since his father, Abe H. Cohen, had founded the West Nashville Chamber of Commerce and was its first president, Kelley wrote. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today (Wednesday, January 12, 2005) at Sherith Israel Cemetery, 15th Avenue North and Cass Street in north Nashville. Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Survivors include his sister, Dorothy C. Kohnstamm; children, Marl E. Cohen, Lee A. Cohen, Jay S. Cohen and Lisa A. Cohen; and three grandchildren. The family asked that memorial donations be made to any charity. | ||||||
|
***** If you would like a special day or event announced on this page, please fill in the form below and submit it, and it will appear on this page.
| ||||||