In Memoriam: Jack C. Cohen, FAIA

Early this morning, just after returning to the U.S. from Europe, we received an e-mail from a close family friend to let us know that Jack C. Cohen, FAIA, founder of Cohen & Haft Architects (which later became known as CHHKK Architects and which, later on, after two of CHHKK’s young lions became the principal owner/managers of the firm, adopted the name Torti Gallas & Partners), passed away, suddenly, on Sunday night. We mourn Jack’s passing and join with family, friends and business associates in expressing our sincere condolences to the Cohen family.

Simply put, Jack was an amazing person, one who had a profound impact on everyone he was associated with. My father-in-law, Gerson (Gus) Nadell, was close friends with Jack for probably close to 60 years; that friendship started even before Jack helped Gus found Silver Spring Blueprinting (Cohen & Haft was our very first customer, a relationship that began in 1963.) Although slight in stature, Jack was a commanding presence, a true leader in every sense of the word, leader. Together with his partners and associates he built his Architecture firm into one of the leading firms in the Washington, DC Metro Area. He played an important mentoring role to many, many people, both those he directly worked with and those who were vendors to his company.

I had two, very successful, extended careers in the reprographics business before retiring from full-time participation in December 2007, and I owe a serious debt of gratitude to the two people who formed the foundation for my career in the reprographics industry – to Gus, who taught me how to do business – and to Jack for making sure I completely understood how to take care of customers.