William “Bill” Cohn, age 92, of Sandisfield, passed away at home on March 14, 2024.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Bill graduated from DeVilbiss High School in 1949 and attended the University of Michigan before transferring to Ohio State where he earned his master’s degree. Bill served in the Army at the Presidio in San Francisco from 1955 to 1957. In 1966, he moved to Madison, Wis., where he earned a PhD in European history. Bill studied with Professor Harvey Goldberg, considered by many to be one of the top history professors in the U.S.
Bill married Jan Kadetsky, a well-known English professor (deceased in 2004). They moved to Pittsburgh, where he taught history at Carnegie Mellon University for 10 years, eventually moving to Reston, Va., where he worked at George Mason University. About 10 years later, they moved to Hartford, Conn., where Bill taught history and then became an expert on World War II, a subject he researched endlessly for his presentations, a number of which were at the Sandisfield Arts Center.
Bill was a wonderful athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and tennis. He was a patron of the arts, supporting opera, ballet, animal rescues, the environment, women’s rights, and almost any other cause. He was a generous man.
Over the past 20 years, he and his partner Rita Kasky travelled abroad and in the United States and engaged in many community events. In recent years, Bill was confronted by several health issues, and he battled them with dignity and strength. His life was full and well-lived.
Bill is survived by sons Jeff and Scott Cohn of Newton, daughter-in-law Sally, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, his sister Marnie, and his partner Rita Kasky.
A memorial ceremony was conducted on March 18 at the Sandisfield cemetery.
