ABC journalist Bernard Cohen dies at 84
Journalist Bernard Cohen, of Old Brookville,died Aug. 27 of complications from kidney failure. He was 84.
Newsday's obituary for Bernard Cohen
After serving in the Army Air Forces in World War II, Bernard Cohen was majoring in English and journalism in college and pitching in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system when a baserunning accident made his career choice for him.
"He slid into a base and broke his pitching elbow in three places," his daughter, Louisa, said.
After graduating from college in 1952, Cohen got a reporting job at the Long Island Press, was hired by ABC News in 1965 and established a career as a producer for "World News Tonight," "20/20" and other programs until he retired in 1992.
Cohen, 84, of Old Brookville died Aug. 27 of complications from kidney failure.
Former "Nightline" anchor Ted Koppel recalled Cohen worked with naturalist Roger Caras on stories about animals that were featured on the ABC's "Nightly News" on Saturday during the 1970s.
"They did these really lovely pieces," Koppel said. "Bernie was a big, bear of a man with a wry sense of humor. He and Roger were a great team."
Cohen was born in the Bronx, later moved to Freeport, where he attended Freeport High School, and went to the University of Tampa on a baseball scholarship.
Louisa Cohen said her father was "such a sports enthusiast."
"He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers [while in college] and he traveled all over, playing in the Pineapple League, playing baseball in pre-Castro Cuba and other places," she said.
After his elbow injury, Cohen took up tennis and "he became an amazing tennis player," his daughter, a Queens resident, said.
Cohen met his wife, Shirley, through friends on Long Island and they were married in 1954. Louisa Cohen is their only child.
They moved to Old Brookville in 1965, and often had friends over to play on his tennis court, his daughter said. It was not unusual for Nassau County Democratic Leader John English to come by with some of his political pals, such as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, she said. Members of the Islanders would also play.
At ABC, Cohen also worked with Geraldo Rivera, Frank Reynolds, Harry Reasoner, Barbara Walters and many other on-air personalities.
Cohen was honored by the Humane Society of the United States in 1976 for his work on animal rights issues, and was given a doctorate in humane letters by his alma mater, the University of Tampa, in 1986.
Services were private. Burial was at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Flushing.
Out East: Mecox Bay Dairy, Kent Animal Shelter, Custer Institute & Observatory and local champagnes NewsdayTV's Doug Geed takes us "Out East," and shows us different spots you can visit this winter.
Out East: Mecox Bay Dairy, Kent Animal Shelter, Custer Institute & Observatory and local champagnes NewsdayTV's Doug Geed takes us "Out East," and shows us different spots you can visit this winter.
