| Obituary |
COHEN, Leonard After a long and significant life, Leonard Cohen passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, in his ninety-eighth year. Beloved husband of Alice Gold for sixty-nine years. Loving father and father-in-law of Michael Cohen, Howard Cohen, Paul Cohen and Shelley Adler, Aron Cohen, Laura and Guy Kay. Cherished grandfather of Sam, Zoe, Ezra, Ruben and Matthew. Brother and brother-in-law of Carol and the late Allan Haber, the late Lou and the late Eileen Cohen, and brother-in-law of Helen and the late Alan Frome, Rita and the late Sidney Tobin, the late Gertrude Gold, the late Faye and the late Hy Singerman. Leonard will be remembered with love and respect by his many nieces, nephews, family and friends. Son of Anni and Myer Cohen, he grew up on Jeanne-Mance, in the Plateau district of Montreal. A graduate of Baron Byng High School, he later joined the Army as a weapons-instructor and served to the end of WWII. His business career started with Leonard's Auto Supply, but in 1950 he became a manufacturer when he bought into Canadian Technical Tape - a producer of pressure sensitive adhesive tapes. In 1958, he started another manufacturing company - W. Ralston - and entered the new business of plastics, making garbage bags and construction film. At the peak of operations, he employed over 750 people in seven manufacturing facilities in Canada, U.S. and the UK. Leonard was also involved in the community, becoming President of Beth-El Synagogue, and was involved with the Board of Directors until last year. A generous fund-raiser, he was most involved with causes related to the mentally handicapped. He was a co-founder of the Miriam Home, a Montreal facility built in the 1970's for the care of the mentally handicapped. Leonard was also very involved with JVS/JEM - a workshop that offered vocational training to mentally and physically disabled adults. And, as an extension for his love of Israel, he also sponsored the development of the Cohen Center - a highly respected community project in Be'ersheva, Israel, which helps educate and care for mentally handicapped individuals from all over the country. An avid reader, he was keen on his intellectual pursuit and was always ready for a good discussion on politics, economics, religion or history. He was a skier, a golfer, a traveler, and a giant fan of the Montreal Alouettes. Heartfelt appreciation to the team of CLSC Park Extension for their exceptional care. Special thanks to Leonard's caregivers, Saba, Ben and Musfen. Funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean Talon St. W., on Friday, October 20 at 1:15 p.m. Burial at the Beth-El Congregation Section, Eternal Gardens Cemetery, Beaconsfield. Shiva at his home, Friday following burial, Saturday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday to Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. daily. Contributions in Leonard's memory may be made to the JEM Workshop, (514) 735-4217. |
