[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2179-E2180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING BARBARA COHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Barbara 
Cohen on the occasion of her retirement from the Phoenixville Chamber 
of Commerce where she has served as the Executive Director since 1992.
  Barbara Cohen has led an extraordinary and exciting life. Born in 
Philadelphia, she has always displayed energy and determination in all 
aspects of her life. Her childhood consisted of piano lessons, Hebrew 
School, Girl Scouts, National Honor Society, and international travel. 
Barbara was her class valedictorian at Northeast High School in 1959 
and, from there, she went on to Temple University where she earned a BS 
in education and a minor in political science. After graduation, 
Barbara began teaching 4th grade while attending University of 
Pennsylvania's Graduate School of International Relations.

[[Page E2180]]

  Barbara was married in 1964 and, shortly after her wedding, Barbara 
and her husband served their country by moving to Germany for three 
years where she taught military servicemen and women general education 
courses they needed to finish their high school educations.
  In 1983, ten years after Barbara and her family moved back to 
Pennsylvania and settled in Valley Forge, Barbara went back to school 
and earned her Masters degree in interior design from Drexel 
University. During this time, she was also a full-time mother, driving 
her children to and from soccer practices, dancing lessons, Hebrew 
School and many other activities.
  In addition to her busy schedule and many accomplishments, Barbara 
has been actively involved in her community since returning to the 
States in the 1970's. Barbara serves as a volunteer guide for the 
Friends of Independence National Historic Park, and as a volunteer 
guide for the Foundation for Architecture that gives walking tours of 
historic sites in Philadelphia. Barbara has also served as a board 
member for the Chester County Tourist Bureau and for the Schuylkill 
River Greenway Association. Barbara spearheaded an EPA brownfields 
initiative grant for Phoenixville Borough as Director of the 
Phoenixville Area Economic Development Corporation and Executive 
Director of the Chamber of Commerce. And she has provided unparalleled 
leadership and direction for a wide variety of public improvement and 
revitalization efforts in Phoenixville. Due to Barbara's tireless 
efforts, almost 4 million dollars has been raised in the revitalization 
effort and the Borough now stands on the threshold of a magnificent 
resurgence.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring this 
extraordinary woman for the years of good work she has done at home and 
abroad and for the many distinguished and remarkable contributions she 
has made to this community and the people whose lives she has 
graciously touched.

                          ____________________