Sumner Barry Cohen's Obituary
Sumner Cohen passed away peacefully in Chicago on October 26, 2021, with his beloved wife and daughter by his side. Born June 8, 1943 in Malden, Massachusetts, he was the son of Eugene & Sayde Cohen. The family moved to Miami Beach in 1952, where Sumner grew up, graduated from Miami Beach High School and the University of Miami. Many South Floridians will remember him from Universal Apparel, a tennis & ski wear business. In 1990 he moved to Chicago where he worked in the clothing manufacturing business until his retirement in 2015. He remained friends with many of the people he met through his work around the world.
In 1991 he married Bette McNamara whom he had met in Miami, and they have made their home in Chicago ever since.
Sumner was smart, warm and friendly with an incredible sense of humor and always had a great joke to share with friends. He derived great joy from his two daughters and was extremely proud of their many accomplishments.
He was predeceased by his parents Sayde & Eugene Cohen and sister Muriel Barth.
Sumner is survived by and will be greatly missed by his beloved wife Bette McNamara, his daughters Audra Cohen of Miami, and Rachael Cohen of Chicago; sister, Ann Keusch of Miami Beach; brother-in-law John McNamara (Michelle) of Nova Scotia as well as nieces & nephews.
Graveside services will be held on Sunday, October 31, 11:00 am at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, 1125 NW 137 Street, Miami. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to BLUME Haiti, www.blumehaiti.org/donate
Arrangements by Levitt Weinstein Blasberg Rubin Zilbert (305) 932-2700.
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