Harvey Cohen, a Manhasset resident and trailblazer in lacrosse in Port Washington, died on Friday, May 27, at the age of 97.
Cohen, a World War II veteran and attorney, was active in youth sports in Port Washington and Manhasset for 60 years and is responsible for helping start several youth sports programs in Port Washington and North Hempstead.
In his honor, Port Washington Youth Activities printed shirts to wear in the Memorial Day parade.
“While we call ourselves the ‘Legends,’ there is truly only one ‘Legend’ at PYA and that is Harvey Cohen. He has made a positive impact on tens of thousands of children not only in Port Washington but across our great country. We will never see someone in our lifetime who has done so much for youth sports,” the Port Washington Youth Activities Board of Directors said in an e-mail to members.
Officials said Cohen was a prominent supporter and trailblazer of Port Washington athletics.
Cohen helped establish the Midget Lacrosse League in Port Washington and the larger Long Island Midget Lacrosse League in 1969.
Throughout the 1970’s Cohen coached post-high school and college summer league teams and formed an indoor lacrosse league for high school students. He founded the North Hempstead Lacrosse Club in 1982.
Cohen also served on the Board of Directors of the PYA since its inception in 1963. He also served as the organization’s president in the 1970’s and again in the 1980’s and was inducted into the PYA Sports Hall of Fame for his many accomplishments.
In January 2014, he was named the first recipient of the Keeper of the Game award at the annual U.S. Lacrosse National Convention in Philadelphia for his 80 years of involvement in the sport.
Cohen was married to the late Norma, was a father to Beth and Barry, a grandfather to Kyle, Emily, Ben, Danny, Ted and Katie, and a great-grandfather to Bennett, according to his obituary notice.
A memorial service will be held in early summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mental Health Association of Nassau County Inc., located at 16 Main Street in Hempstead.
“Please take some time this weekend to tell your children about Harvey Cohen, his dedication to youth sports, his service to our country and truly what a great man he was,” the PYA Board of Directors officials said in a statement.
