Aaron Cohn

Judge Aaron Cohn died peacefully in his home on July 4th, 2012, surrounded by his adoring and loving family. Memorial services will be held at Temple Israel, Wildwood Avenue, Columbus, Georgia at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 8, 2012. Graveside military burial at Riverdale Cemetery immediately following the service according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus, Georgia.

Judge Cohn was born on March 3, 1916, in Columbus, Georgia, son of the late Sam and Etta Cohn. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of almost seventy years, Janet Ann Lilienthal Cohn. Survivors include his adoring daughters Gail Cohn (Harvey Danits) of Atlanta, Georgia; and Jane Cohn Kulbersh (David) of Columbia, South Carolina. His is also survived by his loving son Leslie Cohn (Bonnie) of Columbus, Georgia. He is further survived by six grandsons Howie (Kim) Rosenberg, David (Sheri) Rosenberg, Eliot Rosenberg, Jonathan (Sara Citron) Kulbersh, Al (Tracy) Cohn, Seth (Valerie) Cohn, along with two loving granddaughters, Leslie (Aaron) Lipson and Melissa (Shawn) Baldwin. His grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. He leaves behind eleven great grandchildren, as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

He was a man who exemplified service to his community, his profession, his school, his religion and his country. Some of his leadership activities include: Former Superintendent of Sunday School and President of Temple Israel; former Chairman of March of Dimes, he organized the local Polio Foundation Board; associated with Little League Baseball for ten (10) years as coach, etc., and formerly on the Executive Board of Pop Warner football programs; served on the Physical Council for the Y.M.C.A. for many years; former President of the Parent Back Club of Columbus High School, and assisted the tennis team as coach on a volunteer basis; active in Columbus High School PTA; former President of the Columbus Tennis Association, aiding young players to develop; advisor to local Selective Service System; former Chief Voter Registrar of Muscogee County, Georgia, from 1960 to 1965 during the height of the Civil Rights movement; past President of Columbus Lawyers Club (now Columbus Bar Association, Inc.); past local Chairman of National Conference of Christians and Jews; past Commander of the Military Order of the World Wars; past President of Muscogee Lions Club; past President of Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges; on Board of Directors of Columbus State Athletic Fund; past President of Junior Achievement of Columbus; formerly on USO Boards; formerly Executive Board member of Chattahoochee Council of Boy Scouts of America; formerly on Board of Directors of Good Will Industries; former member of the State Crime Commission; past President of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; formerly a member of the Board of Directors of Home Federal Savings and Loan Association (now Regions Bank); and served on the Board of Directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia for 35 years (1956-1985), Chairman, 1985.

Judge Cohn also served in the U.S. Army and served with General Patton’s 3rd Infantry Division in World War II. He earned the Bronze Star for his service and was a liberator of a concentration camp, Ebansee, and was a Colonel (Ret.) in the U.S. Army. A University of Georgia graduate, he was a formidable tennis player in his day. He was the captain of the tennis team and on October 22, 2005, was the recipient of the “Bill Hartman Award” one of the highest honors a former athlete can attain. Other awards include the Livingston Citizen Soldier of the Year award from the Association of the U.S. Army; the Jim Woodruff Jr. Memorial Award for “continuous service to mankind”; and a 2003 Doctorate of Human Letters from Columbus State University, where he served on the athletics board, and in 2008 the State Bar of Georgia honored Judge Cohn with its Tradition of Excellence Award. He told the audience of a picture he keeps on his desk that read in part: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, what sort of house I lived in, the kind of car I drove… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

In lieu of flowers charitable contributions can be made to Paws, National Infantry Foundation / Holocaust Exhibit, the Ruth and Leslie Lilienthal Memorial Garden Fund at Temple Israel, Columbus Hospice or the charity of your choice.