Arthur Cohen, Brandeis trustee, dies

Arthur Cohen

Longtime Brandeis Trustee Arthur Cohen, a prominent New York City real estate developer, died on Aug. 9 at his home in Kings Point, N.Y. He was 84.

Cohen was elected to the Brandeis Board of Trustees in 1963 and served for more than two decades. He was named trustee emeritus in 1989. He and his wife generously supported Brandeis, establishing the Arthur and Karen Cohen Reserve Room in Farber Library and making gifts to the Annual Fund and for student scholarships.

In 1971, Cohen created Arlen Realty & Development, the nation’s largest publicly held real estate enterprise, with a vast portfolio of office buildings, hotels, single- and multi-family residential buildings, and more than 250 shopping centers worldwide. During his career, he helped revitalize Times Square through his ownership interest in the Paramount Building at 1501 Broadway and his development of the 1500 Broadway office tower and the Crowne Plaza, Paramount and Michelangelo hotels. He recognized the potential of the far west side of Midtown Manhattan when he built the Westyard office-warehouse facility and the Worldwide Plaza.

A Brooklyn native, he graduated from the University of Miami and New York Law School.

His public service work included being part of the Special Mission to Israel under Prime Minister Golda Meir and serving as special envoy to aid underprivileged nations under President Lyndon B. Johnson.

He was named Man of the Year by the Anti-Defamation League and the City of Hope. He also supported the Jewish National Fund, Long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center, New York Law School and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

In his spare time, he enjoyed sailing with his family on Long Island Sound in his cherished vintage sailboat, “Les Girls,” named to honor his wife and five daughters. He also played golf at Old Westbury’s Glen Oaks Country Club and the Palm Beach Country Club.

Along with his wife of 60 years, he leaves five daughters, Lauren, Susan, Debra, Rochelle and Kathy; nine grandchildren, Allison, Hanni, Caroline, Jennifer, Charlie, Kate, William, Emily and Henry; and his sister, Marilyn Davimos.