A. Donald Cohen

Allan Donald Cohen, age 82, of New Lenox, Illinois passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. He was born on November 28, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois to Harold and Lucille Cohen.

Donald was the firstborn, older brother to Bob and Marcia. Something that not everyone knows about him, is that he learned to play the accordion as a child at age 8, and by 11 years old, he was quite advanced, with the ability to play very complex pieces! But Don‘s eagerness to play baseball took priority over music, and he quit playing the accordion so that he could join the Oak Lawn Lions club little league.

Baseball became a big part of his life. As the Lion’s shortstop, he was awarded a trophy for “most valuable player” and was recognized in the local paper.

Don played baseball throughout childhood and into highschool. He got a baseball medal on his school sweater. The love of the game was something he carried with him throughout his life. A fan of more than one sport, he also wrestled in highschool.

Don knew what career he would pursue after taking a mechanical drawing class in highschool. He decided he wanted to be an electrician. He graduated from Blue Island community highschool in ‘57 and started working as an electrical apprentice for union local 134, receiving his journeyman certification in ’63. He worked in Chicago as an electrician for most of his tenure, but his work also brought him to Florida, where he lived for 9 years before moving back to Chicago in 1979. While in Florida, he also took on a part time teaching position in the electrical field. Later on in his life, he would often travel back to Florida for vacation and to visit his brother Bob.

Even after Don retired in 2002, he was still an electrician at heart, helping family and friends with their home remodeling projects, (electrical and otherwise!) and much to the amusement of his grandkids, utilizing a hot wire to keep the rabbits away from the little vegetable garden he grew every year next to his deck!

A loyal American patriot who loved his country, Don always held the highest respect for those who served in the military. He worked hard throughout his life, and respected and valued that quality in others.

Always a people person, Don enjoyed spending time with family and friends, hanging out at the American legion, watching nascar, baseball and football, (he was also an avid Bears fan!) fishing, riding his motorcycle, babying his red Saturn sky sportcar, and after acquiring a pilots license, flying his 1966 Mooney M20E plane. He started going by the nickname Mooney Don. He loved flying and talking all things planes with his pilot buddies or anyone who would listen. As much as he enjoyed his work as an electrician, he said that his dream job would be working as a pilot for Southwest Airlines.

Toward the end of his life, Don kept saying how blessed and thankful he was that he lived such a long and healthy life. He loved his family and friends and had a special soft spot and twinkle in his eye for his many great granddaughters.

Don is survived by his brother, Robert Cohen; sister, Marcia Cohen; sons-in-law, Michael Denzy, Greg Blair; grandchildren, Michael, Nicholas, Ryan, Emillie, Benjamin, Chloe, Sophie, Abbie, Samuel, Naomi; great-grandchildren, Elieana, Gabriella, Valencia, Lanie, Jane, Ruby; many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Lucille Cohen; daughters, Deedee Denzy and Karie Blair.

Family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 102 E. Francis Road, New Lenox, IL 60451 on Friday, November 11th, 2022 from 11:00 AM until time of service at 1:00 PM.  Interment will be private.