Earl L. Cohen of Natick died on Friday, September 6, 2013 at the Kindred Hospital in Natick after a courageous battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was 73 years old.
Born on October 23, 1939 in Stoneham, he was the son of the late John Meyer Cohen. Earl was raised in Chelsea, Massachusetts and after high school enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served our country proudly. He attended San Francisco City College before returning home to his family in Massachusetts.
After marrying his wife Paula, Earl purchased a boat and became a lobsterman, fishing in Boston Harbor for five years. He subsequently became a service manager of diesel mechanics for W.A. Kraft (Kraft Power) Company and later a salesman, first with International Harvester, then Resco Trailer, Advanced Moving & Storage, Humboldt Moving, Eagle Trailer, and J & D Truck. In his later life, he trained to become an IT help-desk technician and worked at TJX Cos. in Westborough, followed by a position at Bayer Corporation, from which he retired.
During retirement, Earl worked part-time as an auction line supervisor for Adesa, Inc. in Framingham. Earl’s passion for tennis was indulged by playing several times a week at the Tri-Valley, Natick Racquet and Sudbury River Tennis Clubs.
He was a loyal fan of the New England Patriots and the Boston Celtics & Bruins. As an avid reader, Earl was a faithful patron at the Framingham Public Library each week, where he also frequently attended its popular lecture series. He loved an eclectic array of music, with favorites ranging from Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and Queen to Maynard Ferguson, Diana Krall, and Broadway show tunes. Earl found true joy in his 42-year marriage to his loving wife Paula (Carroll) Cohen of Natick and in the time he spent with his four devoted children, their wonderful spouses, his six beautiful grandchildren, grand-dog Manny, and his extended family.
Earl was the cherished father of Shari Rosenman & her husband Shep of Los Angeles, Howard Cohen & his partner Josephine Argento of Tampa, FL, Jillian Cohen & her wife Judy Halaby of Brooklyn, NY & Ryan Cohen & his wife Kristen of Marlborough. Loving grandfather of Maya, Eytan, Brandon, Clover, Caleb & Raegan. Caring brother of Philip Cohen & his partner Vivienie Thorpe of Stoughton & Richard Cohen & his wife Rebecca of Del Ray Beach, FL. Brother-in-law of Maura Sawyer & her husband Paul of Framingham, Michael Carroll of Alpine, CA, Martha Jones & her husband Roger of Woodstock Valley, CT, Martha Carroll of Framingham & the late Mark Carroll & his late wife Robin Carroll. Also survived by many loving cousins, nieces, nephews & his former wife & friend Roslyn Pelletz.
The family wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary skilled care Earl received this summer from the staffs at the Kindred Hospital and the Eliot Center for Rehabilitation, both of Natick.
A Memorial Service will be held in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., at Natick Common on Wednesday, Sept. 11th at 10:30AM. Rabbi Van Lanckton from Temple B'nai Shalom will officiate. The family will receive guests from 9:30-10:30AM at the funeral home. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Earl’s memory may be made to the IPF Foundation, c/o Brigham & Women’s Hospital Development Office, Attn: Katie Kilkelly, 116 Huntington Ave., 5th Fl., Boston, MA 02116 or the Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington St., Framingham, MA 01702. For directions, please visit www.everettfuneral.com.