Sanford ‘Sandy’ Cohen, synagogue head, dies
Sanford “Sandy” Cohen of Bethesda, whose career included serving in executive posts at several synagogues, died April 16 of heart disease. He was 85.
He was the son of Michael “Mickey” and Esther Cohen; husband of Beverly Cohen; father of Josh Cohen (Anna), Sharon Evans (Bob Walter), Steve Boorstein, David Boorstein and Nancy Stevens; and grandfather of Brandon Evans, Bryan Boorstein, Ben Boorstein, Hannah Boorstein, Isaak Boorstein, Morgan Stevens and Dylan Stevens.
He had many friends, colleagues and acquaintances from Providence, R.I.; New York and Washington.
Cohen, born in Providence, studied business administration at the University of Rhode Island and received a master’s degree in education from New York University. He worked as a youth director and then as an assistant executive director for the Forest Hills Jewish Center in New York. He also worked as executive director for several synagogues including Adas Israel Congregation, Washington Hebrew Congregation and Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.
Cohen served as the national president of the North American Association of Synagogue Executives and president of the Mid-Atlantic Temple and Synagogue Administrators’ Association, and held leadership positions with National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA).
Dr. Robert B. Nussenblatt, National Institute of Health ophthalmologist, dies at 67
Dr. Robert Nussenblatt, a world-renowned expert in uveitis, a group of inflammatory diseases that can cause blindness, died of cancer April 17. The Bethesda resident was 67.
A physician and clinical researcher at the National Institute of Health in the National Eye Institute, he devoted his life to improving the care of his patients. His work was significant in defining the pathology for uveitis and improving its treatment. He also had a major impact on the development of treatments for AIDS-related eye disease and immunological aspects of age-related macular degeneration.
He held numerous leadership positions at the NIH, trained other clinicians and influenced patient care worldwide. He strongly believed in the importance of mentoring and during his 39 years at the NIH, he mentored more than 67 fellows who are now practicing around the world and serving in leadership roles. He contributed his expertise to many professional organizations and authored more than 600 publications.
He believed in the importance of team science that he pursued both in the United States and abroad. He was a recipient of honorary degrees from Bar-Ilan University and the University of Paris, and accepted numerous awards and professional honors throughout the years.
He was a prolific reader and enjoyed discussing religion, philosophy, history, geography and world affairs. He was fluent in French and spoke it at home with his family. In addition to his professional achievements, he is mostly remembered by his friends, colleagues and patients for his modesty and kindness.
He is survived by his wife, Rosine Nussenblatt, three children and three grandchildren.
