Bernard David Cohen, 95, a practicing attorney for more than 70 years and an active participant in Jewish affairs, died on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, at his home in Chattanooga.
Bernie, as he was known to his friends, was a native of Huntington, W.V., and was a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, and the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Ks.
He was admitted to practice in Kansas in 1937 and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1961. He was licensed to practice before state and federal appeals and supreme courts. He and his family moved to Chattanooga in 1961.
Prior to moving to the city, he was an attorney for the state of Kansas, for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, a staff attorney for the Rural Electrification Administration in St. Louis, Mo.; and Washington, D.C., and a regional director for the National Youth Administration.
He was a member of the Chattanooga and Tennessee Bar Associations, the Chattanooga and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Associations and the American Judicature Society. He was a longtime member of the Commercial Law League and served as chairman of its consumer bankruptcy subcommittee.
He was an active member of Mizpah Congregation, where until recently he regularly chanted the blessings and weekly text from the Book of Prophets in the Hebrew Bible at Saturday morning services.
Bernie was preceded in death by Thelma H. Cohen, his wife of 46 years; Helen Miles Cohen, his wife of six years; his parents, Joseph and Hannah Cohen; sisters, Jeanette Lippman, Sadye Segal, Edythe Gross, Fannye Silverman and Rosalie Schechter; and a brother, Charles Cohen.
Survivors include his daughters, Nikki (Wes) Hasden, of Lookout Mountain, Ga., Jeri Debra Cohen, of Signal Mountain; stepsons, John Miles, of Chattanooga, and David Miles, of Seattle, Wa.; granddaughter, Kaysi (Charles) Dixson, of Matthews, N.C.; great-grandsons, Carlisle and Colin Dixson; sister, Margaret (Mickey) Goldenberg, of Huntington, W.V.; several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to his devoted caregivers, Mazella Russell and Jo Ann Byrom.
Memorial services will be held at Mizpah Congregation at 923 McCallie Avenue at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, followed by interment at Mizpah Cemetery. Receiving of visitors will immediately follow interment at the home. A Shiva service will be held at the home at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Public Library for large-print books, the Mizpah Congregation Library Fund, or a charity of choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of J. Avery Bryan Funeral Home, 1914 McCallie Ave., 266-2131.
Online condolences may be made at www.javerybryan.com.