Shirley Bernice Cohen

A librarian at the New Bedford Free Public Library, Shirley Bernice Cohen (1924-2000) dedicated her life to helping her community through charity work with the New Bedford Junior Hadassah. She was an advocate for Jewish Americans and for Jewish children in Palestine. 

Shirley was born on May 20, 1924 to Bertha (Alpert) and Abram (A. J.) Cohen. While her mother Bertha was a Massachusetts native, Abram was a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and not much is known about the circumstances of his immigration. Shirley had one younger sister, Thelma Lee Cohen, who was born around 1932 and went on to become a psychologist and teacher of psychology. The family lived at 248 Hawthorn Street in New Bedford. 

As an adolescent, Shirley was actively involved in the Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) Dramatic Club, performing in multiple local plays over the years at the Fairhaven Town Hall. In 1940, she graduated from the Religious School of Tifereth Israel Synagogue at age 16. While both her parents are only recorded to have achieved primary school education, Shirley graduated from high school and went on to attend Kinyon Secretarial School.

Shirley passed away on May 30, 2000, shortly after her 76th birthday. She never married or had any children, but is survived by the work she accomplished in her community and overseas.

Zoe Lellios, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Class of 2024 (Elisabeth Arruda, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Faculty Sponsor) with Ann O’Leary, Emily Bourne Research Fellow