Obituary for William Cohen

"I learned much from Professor Cohen and appreciated his warmth and his genuine interest in his students. I took his American History course early, and while I developed a focus on Asian and European History during my years as a history major at Hope, he accepted my request to serve as advisor for my senior thesis for a topic in American history because I wanted to learn from his well-regarded research orientation. I'm so happy that I had a nice visit with him in 2016. My condolences to his family, from South Korea where I now reside. - Randy Durband, class of '82"

"I created this for Professor Cohen's dear family. You were very precious to him. I loved the virtual service, it was very honoring to him and I cried when his family raised their glasses together and said, L'Chaim, To Life! His mother, Anne Cohen did this each day with the residents in the nursing home in Holland where she lived and I worked...great memories. I will never forget Bill Cohen and his mother Anne from New York City."

"I'm unbelievably sad to learn of the death of my mentor, Dr. Bill Cohen. He was a significant historian (Thomas Jefferson and the Problem of Slavery, Journal of Southern History, 1960 (yep, in 1960, at age 24, he had already figured out something we're still debating today) and absolutely brilliant teacher. I owe the life I currently lead to him. He encountered me as a talented but unserious freshman in 1985 and, through his inspiring teaching and demand that I do my best, turned me into a committed, curious, and overachieving student. Over four years he taught me lessons that have lasted a lifetime. He supported me in my decision to go to law school rather than continue my studies in history, even though I knew he was disappointed, and wrote me an astonishingly generous recommendation letter that likely cemented my acceptance to a top law school. As a teacher, he was rigorous, demanding, and always supportive. He met you where you were, but insisted that you be your best. He believed in me, and so I wasn't about to let him down. I hope I didn't. ... Bill also cared about the world the way he cared about history, and his students. He was passionate about justice and equality. He would talk about his time in the army in the era of mandatory conscription, and what a powerful experience it was to serve as it brought him, a Brooklyn boy raised as a Marxist, together with people of all races, home states, and political beliefs, working together in a common cause. He lamented the fact that there was no equivalent leveling institution in contemporary life and feared this was increasing divisions and misunderstandings within society. He thought that in 1988. ... I am so grateful for having known this great man, the lessons he taught, and the example he set, which remains so relevant today. I will do my best, Bill. You have my everlasting thanks."

"Professor Cohen was a great example to me of working with both Jewish and Christian Traditions...I will never forget what I learned and have put into practice as a Staff Development Coordinator/Dementia Trainer. I am wondering if any of Bill Cohen's children would want some photos and a presentation which he gave me permission many years ago to teach about the story of his mother, entitled "Anne Cohen's Story." If so please email me, as I have taught it for many years, and he provided me with photos to tell her story. My sympathy is with the family. Jan Dressander"

"Lots of great memories of Dr. Cohen from my days at Hope - first as a student in the mid-1980's and then later as a colleague until I left the faculty in 2001. He was, indeed, an exacting professor and my greatest memories of him were teaching the history department's capstone course, the Senior Seminar. He pushed us hard and the red ink on the earlier drafts of my thesis were never ending. But it was the best preparation I could possibly have had for graduate school. He was also someone who cared about his students, even though on the surface he could be gruff and argumentative at times. I remember him taking the seminar students - there were like 5 or 6 of us - to a Chinese restaurant in Grand Rapids. Despite my negative feelings about it, he introduced me to sushi - and I loved it! He knew how to press an argument!

Dr. Cohen will definitely be missed! Attached is him in what I believe was the spring of 1987 at a party that I believe nearly all of the history department faculty - and others too - attended as we got ready to graduate at Hope."

"So sorry to read of your father's passing. Got to know him at Lubbers Hall third floor when I was a secretary and he a professor. Good memories. Cherish the memories. Karen Michmerhuizen"