Robert E. Cohen

Services will be held at Congregation Emanuel Wednesday at 11:00am

Burial will follow in Montrepose cemetery.

KINGSTON

CANTOR ROBERT E. "BOB" COHEN

Of Hillsworth Avenue died at Tenbroeck Center Lake Katrine, New York on Sunday December 1, 2024. Born in Brooklyn January 25, 1939 he is a son of the late Nathan and Minnie (Margolin) Cohen.

He grew up attending Little Red School House and Elizabeth Irwin High.

A graduate of The Manhattan School of Music, Empire State College, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion as a certified Synagogue Associate .

Bob was Music Director and then Cantor at Congregation Emanuel Kingston New York until his Illness. During the 1960's Bob was a folk singer and member of the New World Singers. Bob Dylan wrote the album notes for their recording. They were the first to record "Blowing in the Wind". A civil rights activist he with his former wife, led the Music Caravan in the "Freedom Summer" in 1964.

Thru the influence of Rabbi Jonathan Eichhorn , Bob came to Kingston and CEHV, where he married his wife, Pat, and together they became an integral part of the community and were honored by the Congregation with a Gala in 2016. Bob sat on many community boards: Family of Woodstock, Ulster County Mental Health Assoc, Caring Community of Ulster County, and Ulster County Board of Drug Prevention. In addition. Bob was the founder and past leader of the Ulster County Interfaith Religious Council. He with Rabbi Eichhorn established the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service. Bob and his wife also traveled throughout the US and Canada officiating at interfaith weddings. Bob received the honors of "Community Volunteer of the Year"  in 1998,  and "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2011, both  from the Jewish Federation of Ulster County. Bob sang at many of the nursing homes from the Capital District to the Hudson Valley. At Ten Broeck, he was well loved adding music and song to the residents' lives.

The Cohen family wishes to thank all of the many wonderful staff at Ten Broeck Center for their kind and loving care, especially Katie Perez and the current administration, including the staff on Dewitt.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to any of the boards on which he sat, or to Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley in Kingston.

Bob is survived by his wife, Patricia H. Cohen. Children; Sean Moses Beecher and Corina Cohen (Marc Robbi), Stepchildren; Stace Shortley (James), Robyn Sebast, David Sebast, Zea Robbi. Grandson, Beecher Robbi. Step-grandchildren; Sloan Shortley, Johnna Whiting, Isabella Sebast, Victoria Sebast, and Gabriella Sebast. He was predeceased by his grandson Lucius Robbi.