My grandfather, Jacob Cohen ’31 Bus, was the news editor of the Penn State Collegian newspaper in the summer of 1931. The Penn State Collegian was the direct predecessor to The Daily Collegian. It generally operated as a semiweekly publication during the school year, but in the summer, it scaled back to a weekly cadence. In recognition of his service to the newspaper, Jacob received a charm that found its way to me upon his passing several years ago.
Jacob graduated from Penn State with a degree in commerce and finance. While his professional pursuits led him down a path of business and finance—he founded an accounting practice with several offices in northeast Pennsylvania—Jacob’s time at the Penn State Collegian was meaningful and served him well throughout his life and career. Known among colleagues, friends, and family as an exquisite writer and communicator, he was quick to credit his time at the Collegian for helping shape his writing skills and develop an awareness for clear communication.
Penn State was an integral part of Jacob’s path, and his experiences both inside and outside the classroom helped shape his personal and professional life. Most significantly, Penn State is where he met his wife of 75 years, my grandmother, Audrey Moore Cohen ’35 Edu. Additional family members who attended Penn State include his daughter Marie Cohen Boltz ’59 H&HD, his son-in-law David Boltz ’59 Eng, his daughter Eloise Cohen Falleder ’62 Edu, and me, his grandson Andrew Cohen ’95 Com.
He also formed close, lifelong friendships during his time in State College, including with Roy Morgan ’31, ’35 MA Edu, who served with Jacob as editor of the Penn State Collegian. Jacob even taught at the university for a couple of years upon graduation, serving as an assistant instructor of an accounting course in the Sparks Building. He returned to Happy Valley when opportunities presented themselves, attending alumni events, reunions, and football games with family members and classmates.
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