More than 600 persons paid final tribute to Joseph H. Cohen, retired clothing manufacturer and welfare work leader, at funeral services in the New York Jewish Center, 131 West Eighty-sixth street, yesterday morning.
Mr. Cohen died Tuesday in the Beth Israel Hospital, following a three days’ illness. He was sixty-nine years old.
Rabbi Leo Jung conducted the service and delivered the eulogy. Cantor P. Jassinowsky participated in the ceremony.
“A real Joseph, he dreamt for all the poor, all the forlorn, all the sick,” said Rabbi Jung. “He had all the grace of an orthodox Jew, his prayerful attitude, his devotion, his beautiful worship. Deeply anchored to his faith, he derived from it, not only sustenance in years of sickness and every kind of disappointment, but also the breadth of prophetic universalism.”
Directors of the Beth Israel Hospital and officers and trustees of the Jewish Center acted as ushers and honorary pallbearers. Among those attending the services were:
Borough President Samuel Levy, Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, Morris Asinof, director Beth Israel Hospifal; William Feinberg, president Jewish Center; Gustavus A. Rogers; Reuben Sadowsky; Dr. Nathan Ratnoff, Beth Israel Hospital, and William Weiss, president Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations.
Interment was in the New Mount Carmel Cemetery in Cypress Hills. The funeral procession of more than sixty automobiles had police escort.
Mr. Cohen is survived by his widow, two sons, Abraham and Simon, and a daughter, Mrs. Jeanette Silberstein.
He was a founder of the Jewish Center, the first of its kind in this country; a former president of the Beth Israel Hospital, a trustee of Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary, and a former president of the Pennsylvania Exchange Bank.
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