A Woman of Valor: Celebrating Cathy Cohen’s Wisdom, Generosity and Leadership
By Paige Roth, Development Assistant at The Cedars
Every October, The Cedars Auxiliary hosts an annual Donors Dinner to gather Auxiliary members for a night of fun, food and reflection. The 2012 Donors Dinner was held in honor of Mrs. Cathy B. Cohen, a longtime Auxiliary Board member and volunteer.
Cathy B. Cohen and Family
Cathy retired from The Cedars Auxiliary Board of Directors this spring after decades of service to the Auxiliary, to residents of The Cedars and to the greater Portland community. A registered nurse whose late husband, Charles “Cuddy” Cohen, was a trustee of The Cedars, Cathy joined the Auxiliary Board in 1994, becoming Vice President of Resident Events.
As is tradition, the first segment of Donors Dinner was devoted to Sherry Hour, during which members caught up with old friends, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and entered to win one of four fabulous raffle prizes – a fox fur trimmed pashmina donated by Dino International Furs, a Coach handbag donated by Zelda Greenspun, a day of beauty donated by Akari Day Spa, or a “night out in Portland” – dinner at Walter’s Restaurant followed by an overnight stay and breakfast for two at the Hilton Garden Inn.
With Cathy Cohen and her family seated at the head table, dinner guests tucked into a delicious meal prepared by The Cedars’ own kitchen and served by volunteer waiters – husbands and sons of Auxiliary members – looking dapper in their bowties. Auxiliary President Suzie Berzinis kicked off the dinner program with a warm welcome for her guests and introduced Rabbi Carolyn Braun, who performed the invocation. Kathryn Callnan, President and CEO of The Cedars, delivered a lovely speech lauding Cathy Cohen’s contributions to The Cedars community and her open, giving spirit. Ms. Callnan went on to read a letter to Cathy Cohen from William L. Caron, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maine Medical Center, who was unable to attend the event but intended to honor Cathy’s career running the operating room there. The audience was treated to a slide show of photographs put together with the help of Cathy’s friends and family. The crowd giggled at black and white images of Cathy as a chubby baby, gasped at her beauty as a young nurse, and smiled knowingly at familiar images of “The Duffettes,” Cathy’s golf team, regulars at the Auxiliary golf tournament since its inception.
It was truly a joyous, satisfying evening for The Cedars Auxiliary. As guests headed out into the October night, all were in agreement that there couldn’t have been a more deserving honoree than Cathy Cohen. Her living example of wisdom, generosity and leadership will be a tough act to follow.
Sherry Hour Sponsors
Rena Levy Becker
Judy Bertram
Suzie Berzinis
Nancy E. Bogg & Mark Kiefner, in memory of Sally Bogg
Eleanor Brainin-O’Marra
Lee Broder
Cathy B. Cohen, in memory of C.A. “Cuddy” Cohen
Phyllis H. Cohen, in honor of Suzie Berzinis and the good work she does for Cedars
Mildred Kaplan Drees
Diane A. Dussault
Ginny & Wayne Ecklund, in honor of Rena & Michael Becker
Dee Emple, in memory of Donna Dionne Hubbard
Katie & Jim Freilinger, in honor of Kathy Callnan
Susan Garson
Elizabeth & Sidney Geller
Renee Givner & Jeff Forbes
Judith & Albert Glickman, in memory of Joseph Brenner
Lynn Goldfarb, in honor of Matthew Goldfarb’s retirement
Marjorie Goodman, in honor of my ten grandchildren
Zelda Greenspun
Sheryl Haas
Candy Henriksson, in memory of Karl and Dolores Henriksson
Fran & Arthur Jacobson, in memory of Stephen Brent Jacobson
Ethel Koocher, in honor of my new great-great granddaughter, Emma Claire
Betsy & Alan Levenson, in honor of our daughter, Suzie Levenson Berzinis
Lisa Meyer
Bonnie Lee Nelson
Mary Pennell Nelson
Bette Novick, in honor of our grandchildren: Henry Max, Jack Ronen, Alexander Remy, Martin Phiroz, and Callie Violet
Doris Pollack
Hilary Rapkin & Will Stiles, in honor of Lenore Rapkin
Lenore Rapkin
Nancy Ravin
Sara Lee Rosen, in memory of Jack Rosen
Cindi Schaab, in honor of Cathy Cohen
Susie Schwartz, in honor of Zelda Greenspun’s 90th birthday
Barbara Shapiro
Tanya Shapiro
Beth Sheppard
Nancy Shuman, in memory of Gertrude Lerman
Janine Ortiz Smestad
Joan Willis, in memory of Stephen Willis
Janie Zimmerman
Dinner Sponsors
Event Sponsors
Zelda Greenspun
And thanks to our great volunteers:
Dee Emple, Chair
Marjorie Ferris
Rena Becker
Rabbi Carolyn Braun
Renee Givner
Candy Henriksson