Herbert Cohn

Herb was born in Chattanooga in 1931 to Helen and Lester Cohn, in a loving home with older sister Joyce and grandmother Clara, and attended McCallie School.

He studied marketing at the University of North Carolina on a Naval ROTC Scholarship. During his senior year, he met Suzanne Mandel of Chicago, and they were married on Independence Day 1954. Their early years together were spent on his Navy assignments across the eastern seaboard. Herb remained active in the Naval Reserve for another 17 years.

Herb and Sue settled in Chattanooga, where Herb joined his father at Violet Camera. After 42 years there, he sold the 4-generation family business in 1997.

Herb’s greatest pleasure in life was his 59-year marriage to Sue, who died in 2014. Herbie and Suzie, as they were known to their grandchildren, took great joy visiting family members and making new friends on journeys around the world.

Upon his retirement, Herb led an active life of community service. He became a Master Gardener. He manned the information desk at Erlanger Hospital for 27 years and served as the president of the hospital auxiliary. He was chair of the Hamilton County Library board and served on the McCallie Alumni Council.

Herb played an active role in the Chattanooga Jewish community, particularly his synagogue Mizpah Congregation.

Herb is survived by his daughter Amy and Jon Cohen of Chattanooga, son Gerry and Dara Bloom of Durham (NC); six grandchildren Geoffrey Cohen and Ludovic Lusseau of Montpellier (France), Ethan Cohen of Chattanooga, Aliza Cohen and Carolyn Schneider of Philadelphia, Esther Cohn of Brooklyn, Jethro Cohn of the open road, Leo Cohn of Durham (NC), and seven beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

The family invites friends to gather for a memorial service to celebrate Herb’s life at Mizpah Congregation on Wednesday, December 18th at 2:00 p.m.

Contributions in Herb’s memory may be made to the Geoffrey Sidney Cohn Fund of the Chattanooga Community Foundation or the Mizpah Congregation Endowment Fund.

Arrangements entrusted to Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services Franklin -Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37404, 423-265-4414. Please visit our website to share your memories: www.advantagefranklin-strickland.com