Stanley Cohen

Born January 4, 1929 in Cincinnati, Ohio, a first-generation American, was the son of Russian immigrants Robert and Celia Cohen. He is preceded in death by his brother, Sidney.

Stan graduated from the University of Cincinnati and was inducted into the US Army, serving two years in the Public Information Office at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.

After his discharge, Stan returned to Cincinnati and was hired by Ziv Television Productions, a pioneer in filmed TV weekly series.

In 1957, he joined WDSU-TV, NBC affiliate in New Orleans as the Director of Program Planning and Promotion. During that time, he founded the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) and was elected its first president.

NATPE International is today recognized as one of the largest and most influential television organizations in the world. In recognition of his role as the founder and first president of NATPE International, Stan was presented with the 1996 Distinguished Achievement Award by the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Stan and Rae Ann Kieffer were married in 1960 and had three children.

In 1964, Stan was named president of Royal Street Development Company, Inc., Newport Beach, CA.

Internationally acclaimed projects included Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco, Deer Valley and Park City Resorts in Utah, and Mission Hills Ranch in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

Stan served on the Newport-Mesa district educational committee, California State University Foundation board, board of St. Mary's Hospital, baseball coach, and known to climb the fence to run the track at Newport Harbor High School.

He was also a member of Temple Sharon and Congregation B'nai Israel.

Survivors include: wife, Rae; children: Gordon (Trisha), Gary (Leanne), Sharon (Bill); grandchildren: Brandon, Kiefer, Jason (Marika), Nathan, Aaron; and niece Abbe.