Cohen earned a bachelor’s degree in 1958 from Brooklyn Polytechnic University and a Ph.D. from Princeton in 1963, both in aeronautical engineering. He then taught at Brown for three years before joining the University of Pennsylvania in 1966 as an assistant professor. From 1992 to 1997, he was chair of the mechanical engineering and applied mechanics department.
During his doctoral efforts and a few years beyond, Cohen collaborated with the late Princeton professor Martin Kruskal (recipient of a 1993 National Medal of Science) on plasma physics, a foundation of Cohen’s strength in plasma-fluid dynamics. Among his contributions is a highly acclaimed graduate-level course textbook, Fluid Mechanics , written with the late professor P.K. Kundu, recently released in its fourth edition.
Cohen was dedicated not only to academics, but also to physical fitness. In recognition of the latter, a small plaque in his honor recently was installed at the Ringe Squash Courts at Penn.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, two daughters, and three grandchildren.
Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.