Robert Henry Cohen, age 90, a native Washingtonian who raised his family in Beltsville, MD, passed away on February 5, 2018. Bob was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Lela Mae Cohen. He is survived by his children, Lynn Cohen, Steve (Donna) Cohen, Donna (Rich) Mahan, and foster son Danny (Donna) LaFoille; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; sister Dr. June Pollack and brother Dr. Donald Cohen. As a teenager, he worked with his father at the Times-Herald newspaper and sold programs at Griffith Stadium. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Bob received a B.A.in business from George Washington University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi fraternity. He had several successful businesses including Berwyn Esso in College Park, Laurel Western Auto, Riverdale Exxon, and Chestnut Hills Exxon in Beltsville until he retired to Fredericksburg, VA. He was a parishioner at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Beltsville and Wilderness Community Church in Locust Grove, VA, and attended Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church. Bob was a devoted Redskins fan and committed member and officer of the Lions Club. His happiest times were spent sharing his home on the Shenandoah River, camping, and walking his cherished dogs. Above all, Bob’s passion and love were family and friends “fueled” by unconditional loyalty, compassion, and integrity. Bob was loved dearly, impacted many lives, provided many teenagers their first job, and will be missed tremendously. Bob took comfort in the fact that he lived an extremely blessed life and that one day he would be reunited with loved ones in the presence of God. He will be interred with his loving wife at his final resting place in Arlington Cemetery.
Memorial services were on Saturday, February 17, held at Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church located at 12101 Linden Linthicum Ln, Clarksville, MD 21029. Visitation began at 9:30 am, and the service at 10:30. Lunch was hosted at Rich and Donna Mahan’s home located at 14826 Sapling Way, Glenelg, MD 21737.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in memory of Robert H. Cohen to John Hopkins Department of Surgery in honor of Dr. Frederic Eckhauser and the Division of GI Surgery. Dr. Eckhauser is the surgeon that saved Bob’s life and gave us 10 additional years with him. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University and forward to the Bridget Cashen Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, 550 North Broadway, Suite 722, Baltimore, MD 21205. Please include Dr. Eckhauser/GI in the memo line. To make an online gift via credit card, please visit https://secure.jhu.edu/form/surgery and choose “Other” as the designation. Then include Dr. Eckhauser/GI as the description.