Obituary of Martin Cohen
San Antonio, TX - Formerly of Woodridge, NY
Martin Cohen, of San Antonio, Texas, formerly of Woodridge, NY passed away peacefully on the morning of January 10, 2025 at home. He was 88 years old. The youngest son and second youngest child of Sam and Sarah Cohen, Martin was born on August 29, 1936 in Monticello, NY.
Martin lived with his parents and 6 siblings on a farm in Glen Wild, NY until the age of 8 when his parents sold the farm and relocated to Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Tilden High School in 1954. While in high school, the family would spend summers in Woodridge where Martin worked as a delivery boy for his uncle’s produce company. It was on one of these delivery runs that he met, Eleanor Benjamin, who would become his wife. They were married on August 24, 1958.
He began working at Home Life Insurance Company in 1954. He served in the Army Reserves and continued his insurance career, working at the Austen Agency. Martin wanted to start his own agency and a year after the birth of their first child, the couple moved from Brooklyn to Woodridge where he started the Merrell Benco Agency. The agency expanded and grew and eventually moved to Monticello.
Martin was involved in many volunteer and philanthropic endeavors. He sat on the Board of Directors of three yeshivas, was president of the shul, was president of B’nai Brith and supported and served on the board of directors of the Hebrew Day School for over thirty years. He also sold Israeli bonds and ultimately was honored by the bond program. Martin also was a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Woodridge First Aid Squad and the president of the local chapter of Kiwanis.
Despite his accomplishments, Martin was most proud of his family and marveled in their accomplishments. He was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor of 54 years as well as his parents, Sarah and Sam Cohen and his six siblings, Evelyn Peretz, Martha Kieval, Hilda Horenstein, Marlene Premer and Judith Portnoy. Surviving are his wife, Chavah Cohen, of San Antonio, Texas his daughters, Meri (Marc) of Middletown, NY and Cindy (Christopher) of Chicago, Ill, his grandchildren, Loren, Julia and Lillian and his great grandchildren, Isaiah and Elias.
A graveside service will take place at 12:00 noon on Monday, January 13, 2025 at the Workman Circle #281 Cemetery, Marsh Road, Glen Wild, NY with Rabbi Hillel Grossman officiating.
Memorial contributions in Martin’s name can be made to Congregation Ohave Shalom 13 Maurice Rose St. Woodridge NY 12789 or Chabad Lubavitch of South Texas, 14535 Blanco Rd., San Antonio, TX 78216.
Arrangements are honorably entrusted to the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home - 845-794-7474 or www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.
