[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16891-16892]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO THE LATE LEON E. COHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2000

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on July 8, 2000, the Highland Park area of 
New Jersey lost one of its most distinguished members with the passing 
of Leon E. Cohen of Highland

[[Page 16892]]

Park. Mr. Cohen was a man deeply involved with the Highland Park and 
Franklin Township government. His presence and knowledge will be sorely 
missed, while his contributions to civic life continue to impact the 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, Leon Cohen's service to Highland Park began in 1991 when 
he was elected to a borough council seat. During his nine years on the 
borough council he served as Chairman of the borough council finance 
committee where he excelled in municipal finance management. Twice 
during his tenure, Leon served as Council President where he provided 
outstanding leadership. As Chairman of the finance committee, Leon was 
responsible for the Finance, Tax, and Court Departments and he also 
represented the borough council on the planning board and as council 
liaison to the Library Board of Trustees. Leon's financial expertise 
saved the Borough of Highland Park tens of thousands of dollars during 
his tenure in office. Single handedly, he put together a most creative 
financing package that made possible the Highland Park Public Library 
expansion project. He also played a major role in developing the 
finance package that made possible the new Senior/Youth Center in 
Highland Park.
  Leon E. Cohen was bom September 9, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY to Russian 
immigrants Jacob and Bella Cohen. As a student, Leon excelled in math 
and science at the City College of New York in Manhattan, where he 
earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. In 1952, Leon wed Evelyn 
Schwarz. They became the proud parents of a son, Steven, and two 
daughters, Ann and Laurie. Leon and--his family moved from Brooklyn to 
the Bronx and then to Franklin Township in Somerset County. He worked 
for FMC Corporation in Princeton for 41 years before his retirement in 
1943, in the process, becoming well published in the chemistry of 
phosphorous based compounds.

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