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In Memory

Eric Cohen

 

Below are notes sent about the recent death of Eric Cohen. I moved them to the In Memory link. If you wish to add notes please do so from the “Post Comment” on the In Memory page. 

Thanks

Mike Belman

 

01/02/2019

1. Dear classmates, our close friend and colleague Eric Cohen passed away yesterday the 31st December in Bulawayo. He was not well at our last reunion but gave an inspiring talk on medicine in Bulawayo. He is survived by his wife Valda and a son and his family and a daughter who all live in New York. He was an outstanding physician who  devoted his life to serving the people of Zimbabwe. Valda was born in Bulawayo as was her father. 

I wish you all well and a happy healthy and peaceful 2019. 

Warm regards and love to the class of 66.

Justin Silver

 

2. Very sorry to hear about the passing of Eric Cohen.I have many many fond memories of Eric. As you mentioned Justin,Eric was a very dedicated physician and he will be missed. He did indeed give an inspiring speech at our reunion at Hunters Rest.

I would like to wish all of you a very happy and healthy New Year.

Fond greetings,

Alan Reichman 

3. 

I first got to know Eric when he played the role of Macbeth in the Partkown Boys High School production in 1960.  We then reconnected at medical school. Eric and I were keen chess players and we would play chess weekly, late every Friday afternoon at his apartment, where he made  excellent coffee for us.  Later, when we were in final year, I attended his infamous bachelor party where the MSSB team injected him with blue dye that made him a member of the "Blue Man" team. Fortunately the color had dissipated by the time of his wedding to Valda some 3 days later. We served in the SADF together and had some wonderful times with many members of our class.  I lost contact with Eric when we moved to the USA and was delighted to meet him once again at our 50th anniversary reunion in South Africa.  I was particularly moved by Eric's description of his stroke, and of the hardships he and Valda had faced.  Although he had a speech impediment, he delivered an account of his life with precision and clarity.

Our thoughts go out to Valda and the family as we remember Eric with fondness, respect and  admiration.

Norman and Heather Silverman

4. 

Sorry to hear this sad news.  My thoughts and prayers are especially with Eric's wife and family.

John King

5. 

It is heartwarming to read all the wonderful tributes to Eric, fond, and sometimes funny memories. For me, Eric's decision to move to Zimbabwe, perhaps influenced by it being Valda' birthplace, made him unique: he left South Africa as a number of us did, but he did not leave Africa. At that time, he probably had an optimistic view of Zimbawe's future, but he stuck it out. At our recent reunion, his stark description of life there was sobering, making his persistence even more admirable though not surprising given how principled he was.

Michael Eliastam

01/09/19 09:21 AM #45     EDIT     DELETE

Roy First

I am sure that many are wondering why I have not responded to the death of my very dear friend, Eric. Truth is that I have been hospitalized three times since Dec 2 with recurrent E. coli septicemia. It is a long and complicated story and this is about Eric, not me.

I did have a good talk with Valda two days after Eric passed away. Obviously she is devastated by her loss. When I spoke to her, Eric’s brother and children were en route from various parts of the globe for the funeral.

Eric and I go back a really long time. Although at different high schools we met through mutual friends when we were in Form 4. I shall never forget his amazing portrayal of Macbeth at Parktown Boys High. I think that many is us saw that play, some more than once, as Macbeth was our Shakespeare play for matric. For six years of medical school, Eric, Jimmy van Dellen and I drove together on a daily basis. As you know, we remained very close friends post medical school and visited each other in our respective countries, including going to his son’s wedding in New York.

Many have commented on Eric’s dedication to serving the underprivileged. I saw this first hand when visiting him in Buliwayo. He worked under very difficult situations, but always gave his utmost to providing the best possible care to his patients.

Eric was a true gentleman, a great husband and father, and a dedicated physician. He will be severely missed, but his spirit will live on forever. May his dear soul Rest In Peace.

 

01/05/19 01:59 AM #44     EDIT     DELETE

 

Mary Edginton

Sad news about Eric Cohen. Lots of love and sympathy to Valda.

Eric and I were next to one another in various practical labs. He was gentle and peace-loving. No harsh words or mean talk. I was very fond of him.

I was shattered when I saw him outside the Sunnyside before we departed for HUnters. In fact, I didn't recognise him. He looked awful. Must have been an effort to go to the reunion, and especially to talk as Norman pointed out.

Ah well, those of us who remain on the survival curve have reached the time when we could drop off. Greetings and good wishes to you all. We were and are a marvellous bunch of people. I was so privelged to be part of you all.

Mary Edginton (Hodkinson)

 

01/03/19 02:51 PM #43     EDIT     DELETE

Alec Khoury

Very sorry to hear the sad news of Eric Cohen's passing. My thoughts and prayers are for his wife and family

 

 
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01/06/19 10:45 PM #1    

Les Berman

I was very sorry to here about the death of Eric Cohen aka”The Colonel “.We were at school and varsity together.At his stag party we injected methylene blue and he was “cyanosed” for a few days.A Long life to Val and family.Les Berman

01/08/19 06:43 PM #2    

David Lipschitz

I am so sad to learn that Eric Cohen has left us. Every day it seems like someone else we know and love has died. I remember Eric has an outstanding student and a great friend to all of us. I also was most impressed by his commitment to spend so much of his time caring for the poor and disadvantaged. That makes him the best of us.

Reaching the age of 75 and beyond it’s clear that our time left on this earth is short. In the time we have left, will we ever all meet again. I so much appreciated the time that I spent with many of you at our reunion a few years ago. Even though we seem to easily fit in, loneliness is common for many of us who live in the diaspora.  As  we mourne our brother Eric’s passing I wish all of you a long life, blessed with health and peace.

 

01/10/19 10:17 AM #3    

Michael Eliastam

I wrote this a few days ago but put it in the wrong place, apologies. I saw Roy First's note today, and indeed was wondering why he had not contributed. Glad to hear he seems to be over his illness, and wish him well.

Bennie Skudowitz asked for Eric and Valda Cohen address--It took me a while to resurrect the spread sheet, but this is what i have from 2016-
6 Clark Rd Suburbs   Bulawayo    tel--263 9 230410
It is heartwarming to read all the wonderful tributes to Eric, fond, and sometimes funny memories. For me, Eric's decision to move to Zimbabwe, perhaps influenced by it being Valda' birthplace, made him unique: he left South Africa as a number of us did, but he did not leave Africa. At that time, he probably had an optimistic view of Zimbawe's future, but he stuck it out. At our recent reunion, his stark description of life there was sobering, making his persistence even more admirable though not surprising given how principled he was.
For those of us "staying alive", think about our next reunion, the 55th, in 2021. We should begin the planning in a year or so?
Thank you for all the birthday wishes, even Alan Menter who is playing Battleships with my age.

 

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