Harvey Cohen, Port Washington Lacrosse Legend, Dies at 97

Manhasset resident and Port Washington lacrosse legend Harvey Cohen died on Friday, May 27 at the age of 97.

Cohen, admired by many in the community, was a famous supporter and trailblazer of Port Washington athletics.

In addition to being a World War II veteran and attorney, Cohen was active in youth sports in Port Washington and Manhasset for nearly 60 years and is responsible for kickstarting several youth sports programs in Port Washington and North Hempstead.

Athletics

In his honor, kids, parents and members of Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) printed up shirts to wear in the Memorial Day parade.

“While we call ourselves the ‘Legends,’ there is truly only one ‘Legend’ at PYA and that is Harvey Cohen. He has made a positive impact on tens of thousands of children not only in Port Washington but across our great Country. We will never see someone in our lifetime who has done so much for youth sports.” -The PYA Board of Directors said in an email to members.

Cohen's love affair with lacrosse began in 1934 as a defenseman at New York Military Academy. He played college lacrosse at Lafayette College where he was the state's leading scorer in 1939.

He was a volunteer assistant lacrosse coach for the freshman team at Harvard University before serving in Europe during World War II as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

After the war, Cohen graduated from Harvard Law School in 1947.

In 1964, Cohen was instrumental in the establishment of the Midget Lacrosse League in Port Washington and the larger Long Island Midget Lacrosse League in 1969. Throughout the 1970's Cohen coached post high school and college summer league teams and formed an indoor lacrosse league for high school students. He founded the North Hempstead Lacrosse Club in 1982.

He founded the PYA Lacrosse program in 1964, served as the organization’s President until 1971 and continued to serve on the PYA’s Board of Directors and Ethics Committee.

Cohen served on the Board of Directors of the PYA since its inception in 1963. He also served as the organization’s President in the 1970s and again in the 1980s and was eventually inducted into the PYA Sports Hall of Fame for his many accomplishments.

Cohen served as a selector and administrator for the USA Team in the 1986 and 1990 World Games.

In Jan. 2014, he was named the first recipient of the The Keeper of the Game award at the annual U.S. Lacrosse National Convention in Philadelphia for his 80 years of involvement in the sport.

"Harvey is the epitome of what it means to be the keeper of lacrosse," said a U.S. Lacrosse official at the 2014 presentation ceremony. "His unrelenting passion for the sport and his quest to share the gift has made him both loved and invaluable."

Veteran

“It's fitting that Harvey passed away on Memorial Day weekend. While many know Harvey for always being on the fields, Harvey is also a World War II Veteran,” the PYA Board of Directors said in an email sent to members.

Cohen served as a pilot in the US Army Air Corp, flying over 4,000 hours during World War II.

He took park in the invasion of Sicily in July 1942, flew missions for the June 1944 D-Day invasion and supported the Battle of the Bulge during December 1944.

Family

Cohen was married to the late Norma, was a father to Beth and Barry, a grandfather to Kyle, Emily, Ben, Danny, Ted and Katie, and a great grandfather to Bennett, according to his obituary.

In celebration of Cohen’s life, a memorial service will be held in early summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mental Health Association of Nassau County, Inc., located at 16 Main Street in Hempstead are welcome. Read Cohen’s obituary here.

“Please take some time this weekend to tell your children about Harvey Cohen, his dedication to youth sports, his service to our Country and truly what a great man he was,” the PYA Board of Directors said.

Image via PYA