May 5, 1948 ~ Dec. 7, 2024
Marlborough – Steven David Cohen, 76, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, died on December 7, 2024. Steve was born in Boston to the late Florence G. Cohen and Arthur Cohen.
Steve leaves his wife Julie, his children Danielle Schrager (Justin), Jonathan Cohen, Diana Maloney, and Stacy Gillis, his brothers Marc Cohen (Linda Copp), Andrew Cohen (Debra Desgrosiellier), and his sister, Nancy Cohen.
He was called “Zadie” by his six grandchildren: Allison Schrager, McKenzie Cohen, Shannon Scarinci (Paul), Sarah D’Antonio (Kevin), Sydney Gillis (Luke), Savannah Gillis, and three great-grandchildren: Parker Scarinci, Natalie Scarinci, and Owen D’Antonio.
For Steve, family was the most important part of his life. He always enjoyed gathering with family for a good meal, especially if it was Italian food cooked by his beloved wife, Julie.
He was raised in Newton, Massachusetts where he played football and ran track in school. From an early age, he was also interested in science and won a science fair competition.
Throughout his life, Steve was an avid outdoorsman. He loved being out on the water fishing, enjoying the peaceful beauty of the natural world, whether he was on the ocean, a lake or a stream. He particularly enjoyed fishing with longtime friends and fishing buddies.
As a boy, he first developed his passion and skill as a fisherman. Most family vacations involved fishing, whether it was in East Otis, a special trip to Quebec or summers on Cape Cod, where he would lead fishing trips for his father, brothers and sister in “The Uncle Itchik,” a small rowboat named for a mythic uncle. As an adult, Steve’s favorite place to fish was the Beaver Kill in New York.
Steve graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He served as a captain in the Air Force from 1975 until 1978 at the Rickenbacker Air Base in Ohio.
After dental school he had successful dental practices in Lincoln and in Sudbury for over forty years. Steve used his sense of humor to chide patients to take care of their teeth. When asked, ‘Do I have to floss?’ he responded with a smile, ‘Only the teeth you want to keep.’
Besides being an expert fly-fisherman, Steve was well-known for his hand-tied flies. He enjoyed sharing his skills and knowledge with others – and was an excellent teacher. Some of his students included his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Steve served on the board of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum in Roscoe, New York. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Masons.
The Collins Funeral Home in Marlborough was entrusted with his cremation. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Steve’s memory to the American Jewish Committee at www.ajc.org.
