Obituary for Mitzie P. Cohen (Polakoff)
Mitzie Polakoff Cohen, a resident of Naples FL, and a former resident of Baltimore MD, Chicago IL, and Miami FL, died on February 6, 2021.
Mitzie was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1923. She was the daughter of Harry Polakoff and Sadie Polakoff who operated a dry goods store on Carrollton Avenue for many years. She attended Western High School and graduated from Goucher College in 1943. Mitzie was always ahead of her time and taught physics and chemistry at Forest Park Senior High School.
Mitzie was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Harry Cohen, who died just last year. They had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year.
Mitzie was an avid art collector and patron of the arts. Mitzie and Harry travelled extensively and enjoyed visiting museums throughout the world. Mitzie once remarked that she believed she and Harry “had visited every major art museum in the United States and Europe”. Mitzie was a very savvy financial investor who taught herself the intricacies of the stock market and enjoyed following the markets daily until the last day of her life. She made beautiful needlepoints and was an avid scrabble and card player. She was a past treasurer of the Aviva Chapter of Hadassah in Miami, Florida.
Mitzie will be remembered for her beautiful eyes, her warm smile and her ability to engage in conversation with anyone about anything. But she will be most remembered for her love of family. Spending time with, and having her family around her, was the brightest day of her life.
She is survived by her daughters Judith Cohen (Teddy Okum) and Deborah (Jay) Lenhoff, and a son, Dr. Howard (Mary Ellen) Cohen. She leaves behind five grandchildren: Andrew Cohen-Barnhouse (Dana Campbell), David (Krysten) Cohen-Barnhouse, Katie Lenhoff, Jessica Lenhoff, and Kelly Cohen, as well as three great grandchildren, Michael Cohen-Barnhouse, Ethan Cohen-Barnhouse and Max Barnhouse. She is also survived by her nephew, Robert (Lisa) Rombro, niece Joan D. Rombro, nephew, Robert (Tina) Snyder, and niece Phyllis (Arthur) Smelkinson. She was predeceased by her sisters, Gerrye (Leonard) Rombro and Bertha (Henry) Zareswitz).
Funeral services are private. Due to the COVID-19 virus, there will be no formal shiva. Anyone who wishes to participate in a Zoom shiva should send their email address to Judycohen_2000@yahoo.com. Zoom services will take place at 7:00pm on Tuesday, February 16th through Thursday, February 18th. Contributions in memory of Mitzie Cohen may be made to the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Doctor Harry and Mrs. Mitzie Cohen Lectureship in Obstetrics-Gynecology and Anesthesiology. Checks may be payable to UMBF, Inc and sent to the University School of Medicine Development Office Attention: Tracy Morgan, 31 S Green St, Third Floor, Baltimore MD 21201, or to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105.
Mitzie was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1923. She was the daughter of Harry Polakoff and Sadie Polakoff who operated a dry goods store on Carrollton Avenue for many years. She attended Western High School and graduated from Goucher College in 1943. Mitzie was always ahead of her time and taught physics and chemistry at Forest Park Senior High School.
Mitzie was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Harry Cohen, who died just last year. They had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year.
Mitzie was an avid art collector and patron of the arts. Mitzie and Harry travelled extensively and enjoyed visiting museums throughout the world. Mitzie once remarked that she believed she and Harry “had visited every major art museum in the United States and Europe”. Mitzie was a very savvy financial investor who taught herself the intricacies of the stock market and enjoyed following the markets daily until the last day of her life. She made beautiful needlepoints and was an avid scrabble and card player. She was a past treasurer of the Aviva Chapter of Hadassah in Miami, Florida.
Mitzie will be remembered for her beautiful eyes, her warm smile and her ability to engage in conversation with anyone about anything. But she will be most remembered for her love of family. Spending time with, and having her family around her, was the brightest day of her life.
She is survived by her daughters Judith Cohen (Teddy Okum) and Deborah (Jay) Lenhoff, and a son, Dr. Howard (Mary Ellen) Cohen. She leaves behind five grandchildren: Andrew Cohen-Barnhouse (Dana Campbell), David (Krysten) Cohen-Barnhouse, Katie Lenhoff, Jessica Lenhoff, and Kelly Cohen, as well as three great grandchildren, Michael Cohen-Barnhouse, Ethan Cohen-Barnhouse and Max Barnhouse. She is also survived by her nephew, Robert (Lisa) Rombro, niece Joan D. Rombro, nephew, Robert (Tina) Snyder, and niece Phyllis (Arthur) Smelkinson. She was predeceased by her sisters, Gerrye (Leonard) Rombro and Bertha (Henry) Zareswitz).
Funeral services are private. Due to the COVID-19 virus, there will be no formal shiva. Anyone who wishes to participate in a Zoom shiva should send their email address to Judycohen_2000@yahoo.com. Zoom services will take place at 7:00pm on Tuesday, February 16th through Thursday, February 18th. Contributions in memory of Mitzie Cohen may be made to the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Doctor Harry and Mrs. Mitzie Cohen Lectureship in Obstetrics-Gynecology and Anesthesiology. Checks may be payable to UMBF, Inc and sent to the University School of Medicine Development Office Attention: Tracy Morgan, 31 S Green St, Third Floor, Baltimore MD 21201, or to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105.