Obituary: Gordon Seth Cohen, 83, of Madison

MADISON, CT - Gordon Seth Cohen, born May 18, 1937, to Leon and Irene Cohen, passed away, peacefully, on September 10, 2020, in New Haven, CT.

A man of unlimited enthusiasm, interests, laughs, and kindness, Gordon grew up in Brooklyn, NY. A chance meeting at his summer job bussing tables led Gordon to the spunky 15-year-old girl that would become the love of his life.

Gordon and Marjorie Rennick dated through high school and Gordon’s undergraduate years at Brown University; they married while Gordon was attending the Yale School of Medicine. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June, 2020.

After graduating from Yale, Gordon built his medical career as a pathologist, holding academic
appointments to the Yale School of Medicine (Assistant Professor of Pathology and Assistant
Clinical Professor of Pathology) and working as a practicing pathologist at Yale New Haven
Hospital, the Hospital of Saint Raphael, and the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.

Additionally, Gordon was commissioned as a Captain in the Medical Corps of the United States Army Reserves, serving from 1965 to 1970.

Gordon eventually left medical practice for the business world, becoming President of Jeneric
Industries and, subsequently, Chairman and CEO of Pentron Corporation until his retirement. In
later years, Gordon served as a director of Tartan Ltd., as a board member of the Mary Wade
Home in Fair Haven, CT, and as a member of two Brown University councils: the Advisory
Council on Biology and Medicine and the Library Advisory Council.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Marge, and their three daughters and sons-in-law: Terri Susan
Alpert and her husband, Bruce Alpert; Lisa Michelle MacDougald and her husband, Joseph
MacDougald; and Bonnie Lynne Bernal and her husband, Ronald Bernal.

While Gordon had many titles, perhaps his favorite was “Papa,” the name given to him by his
grandchildren: Sarah Alpert (husband Leon Husock) and Rachel Alpert; Katelyn, Ian, and
Benjamin MacDougald; and Chad, Andrew, and Alexa Bernal.

With his grandchildren, Gordon was a mischievous sage, playing practical jokes, making them pledge “eternal gratitude and obedience” in exchange for cookies, and—over the kids’ objections—sneaking treats to the family dogs.

As they grew older, Gordon loved nothing more than to engage his grandchildren in wide-ranging, intellectual conversations on topics from literature to science to politics to the life of his beloved Winston Churchill. Gordon’s range of knowledge seemed inexhaustible, and
his personal warmth was boundless.

Gordon Cohen’s big heart was open to anyone and everyone, and he will be missed by all who
knew him.

In-person shiva minyanim, weather dependent, will be held at 7 pm on September 13, 15, and
17 in the yard outside 588 Boston Post Rd., Madison, CT 06443 ( please bring your own chairs ).
ZOOM shiva minyanim will be held on September 14 and 16.

If interested in attending, please contact Rabbi Bruce Alpert at bruce.h.alpert@gmail.com. Gordon’s burial is to be held at a private graveside service.

Donations or remembrances can be made to Beth Israel Synagogue in Wallingford.