In Memoriam: Marcia Cohen

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center mourns the loss of one of its longtime—and most loyal—friends and supporters, Marcia Cohen. Mrs. Cohen, 76, suffered a stroke and passed away on November 25, 2007, after undergoing a lengthy battle with lung cancer.

Born on March 20, 1931, in Montgomery, Mrs. Cohen attended Ramsay High School and graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in education. After teaching for many years in Columbus, Georgia, she moved to Birmingham, and her path eventually led her to the Cancer Center, where she established the Office of Community Affairs to handle the center’s communication efforts.

During her time at the Cancer Center, Mrs. Cohen gave more than 800 speeches to various groups across Alabama, educating them about cancer and the importance of early detection. After her retirement in 1986, she was invited to join the center’s Supporters Board, and she remained an active member for more than 20 years. As Mrs. Cohen told Crossroads in 2007, “I’ve volunteered all my life, and the Cancer Center gave me the chance to do so much for patients. It wasn’t my job—it was my love.”

Mrs. Cohen was an active volunteer in many civic organizations, including the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Birmingham Jewish Federation, the Mountain Brook School System and Hadassah. In 2007, she also was honored with the American Cancer Society’s Life Inspiration Award for her service and contribution to the cancer community.