| Revision as of 08:07, 6 June 2010 editEpeefleche (talk | contribs)Pending changes reviewers150,049 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 14:37, 6 June 2010 edit undoEpeefleche (talk | contribs)Pending changes reviewers150,049 edits addsNext edit → | ||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
| {{MedalBottom}} | {{MedalBottom}} | ||
| '''Donald "Don" Cohan''' (born in 1930 in ]) has been one of the leading yachtsmen in the U.S. He won a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics (becoming the oldest competitor to win a bronze in sailing, at the age of 42), twice defeated Hodgkins Disease, and then came back to win a U.S. sailing championship at the age of 72. | |||
| '''Donald "Don" Cohan''' (born in 1930 in ]) was one of the leading yachtsmen in the U.S. | |||
| ==Education and career== | ==Education and career== | ||
| Cohan graduated from ] (''cum laude''; 1951), where he was a member of ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sigmabetathetapi.org/famous.shtml |title=The Sigma Chapter of Beta Theta Pi |publisher=Sigmabetathetapi.org |date= |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> and from ]. He practiced as an attorney, before going into business in real estate.<ref name="jewsinsports1">{{cite web|url=http://jewsinsports.org/Olympics.asp?sport=olympics&ID=350 |title=Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum |publisher=Jewsinsports.org |date=September 10, 1972 |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=archive&ct=res&cd=2-0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fselect.nytimes.com%2Fgst%2Fabstract.html%3Fres%3DFB0F13FC3F59107A93C1A91789D95F468785F9&ei=xvIJTOGDE87pnge_2qiBBw&usg=AFQjCNF9flC0rc3EmwD2yMRH62wAbYDwxg&sig2=s1KkgXpROrm-s0FISq3dWA |title=The Stars Fall on Olympic Skippers |publisher='']'' |date= |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> He became President of Donesco Company, a ] firm.<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=apDVYeo46b0C&pg=PA258&dq=%22don+cohan%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=100&as_brr=3&ei=OPIJTOPMBYvUywS8pqXrBw&client=firefox-a&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22don%20cohan%22&f=false |title=Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin |publisher=], Inc. |date= 2009|isbn= 0307451801|accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> | Cohan graduated from ] (''cum laude''; 1951), where he was a member of ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sigmabetathetapi.org/famous.shtml |title=The Sigma Chapter of Beta Theta Pi |publisher=Sigmabetathetapi.org |date= |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> and from ]. He practiced as an attorney, before going into business in real estate.<ref name="jewsinsports1">{{cite web|url=http://jewsinsports.org/Olympics.asp?sport=olympics&ID=350 |title=Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum |publisher=Jewsinsports.org |date=September 10, 1972 |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=archive&ct=res&cd=2-0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fselect.nytimes.com%2Fgst%2Fabstract.html%3Fres%3DFB0F13FC3F59107A93C1A91789D95F468785F9&ei=xvIJTOGDE87pnge_2qiBBw&usg=AFQjCNF9flC0rc3EmwD2yMRH62wAbYDwxg&sig2=s1KkgXpROrm-s0FISq3dWA |title=The Stars Fall on Olympic Skippers |publisher='']'' |date= |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> He became President of Donesco Company, a ] firm.<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=apDVYeo46b0C&pg=PA258&dq=%22don+cohan%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=100&as_brr=3&ei=OPIJTOPMBYvUywS8pqXrBw&client=firefox-a&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22don%20cohan%22&f=false |title=Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin |publisher=], Inc. |date= 2009|isbn= 0307451801|accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> | ||
| ==Sailing== | ==Sailing== | ||
| ]]] | ]]] | ||
| Cohan began sailing in 1967 at age 37.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1">{{cite web|url=http://www.phillyjewishsports.com/inductions/451.html |title=Inductions | Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=Phillyjewishsports.com |date=August 24, 2008 |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> He was on the U.S. team at the World Championships in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Within five years, he was an Olympic medalist.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1"/> He was the first Jew to be a member of the United States Olympic Team in Sailing, and the first to win an Olympic medal in sailing.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1"/> | Cohan began sailing in 1967 at age 37.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1">{{cite web|url=http://www.phillyjewishsports.com/inductions/451.html |title=Inductions | Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=Phillyjewishsports.com |date=August 24, 2008 |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> He was on the U.S. team at the World Championships in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Cohan won the 1972 Olympic trials.<ref name="latitude2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2004/0604/Jun07/June7.html |title=June 7, 2004 |publisher=Latitude38.com |date=June 7, 2004 |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> Within five years from when he began sailing, he was an Olympic medalist.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1"/> He was the first Jew to be a member of the United States Olympic Team in Sailing, and the first to win an Olympic medal in sailing.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1"/> | ||
| In the ], he was set to compete when the ] resulted in the killing by terrorists of 11 Israeli athletes. All Jewish athletes were warned to leave, and two Israelis slated to compete in sailing were instructed to return home immediately. They handed Cohan their satin, blue and white triangular flag, emblazoned with "Sports Federation of Israel. XXth Olympiad Munich 1972," and said: "You're representing us now. Go win a medal for us." | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Competing at the age of 42, he came from far back on the final day and earned a bronze medal as ] in the mixed three-person ] named ''Caprice'' in the {{convert|29|ft|m|adj=on}} ].<ref>]'', May 5, 1996, accessed June 5, 2010]</ref><ref>https://www.cleverpig.org/back/articles/article_5.pdf "An Olympic Campaign in Less-Than-One-Year", accessed June 5, 2010</ref><ref name="suzanne1">{{cite web|url=http://www.suzanne.tv/show.aspx?sid=245 |title=Seeking Solutions With Suzanne |publisher=Suzanne.tv |date= |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref><ref name="jewsinsports1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/usmedals.htm |title=U.S. Olympic Yachting Medal Record |publisher=Ussailing.org |date= |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA253&dq=%22don+cohan%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=100&as_brr=3&ei=OPIJTOPMBYvUywS8pqXrBw&client=firefox-a&cd=5#v=onepage&q=%22don%20cohan%22&f=false |title=Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame |publisher=Brassey's |date= 2000|accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boneyardboats.com/Archives/0046_Winter_2010/1968_DRAGON_CAPRICE_USA244/default.aspx |title=1968 Dragon Racing Sailboat CAPRICE |publisher=Bone Yard Boats |date= |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> He became the oldest person ever to place in Olympic sailing.<ref name="suzanne1"/><ref name="latitude2004"/> | ||
| He wrote: "The last act of ] was to hang an Olympic medal around my neck." Brundage was notorious, among other things, for having reputedly pressured to have the only two Jews on the 1936 U.S. track team, ] and ], removed at the last moment on the morning of the 400-meter relay race, and then later praising the Nazi regime at a ] rally.<ref>Documentary "Hitler's Pawn: The Margeret Lambert Story", produced by HBO and Black Canyon Productions</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|title=The Olympic Story|first=James E.|last=Churchill, Jr.|year=1983|publisher=Grolier Enterprises Inc.}}</ref> | |||
| He wrote: "The last act of ] was to hang an Olympic medal around my neck." Brundage (a Nazi sympathizer) was notorious, among other things, for having reputedly pressured to have the only two Jews on the 1936 U.S. track team, ] and ], removed at the last moment on the morning of the 400-meter relay race, so as not to embarrass Hitler and the Nazis with a Jewish victory.<ref>Documentary "Hitler's Pawn: The Margeret Lambert Story", produced by HBO and Black Canyon Productions</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|title=The Olympic Story|first=James E.|last=Churchill, Jr.|year=1983|publisher=Grolier Enterprises Inc.}}</ref> Brundage later praised the Nazi regime at a ] rally.<ref>Documentary "Hitler's Pawn: The Margeret Lambert Story", produced by HBO and Black Canyon Productions</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|title=The Olympic Story|first=James E.|last=Churchill, Jr.|year=1983|publisher=Grolier Enterprises Inc.}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Cohan has also been U.S. champion, European champion, German champion, and Australian champion.<ref name="google2">{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5bVBhLBis1UC&pg=PA229&lpg=PA229&dq=%22don+cohan%22&source=bl&ots=gC5K220Oh9&sig=qersMlqo9HiDr3El-jgVDCBZ8bM&hl=en&ei=cvAJTImzE4GB8gbaypWUBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=35&ved=0CMIBEOgBMCI#v=onepage&q=%22don%20cohan%22&f=false |title=Call of the Ancient Mariner: Reese Palley's Guide to a long Sailing Life|publisher=] |date= 2003 |isbn=0071388818|accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> | ||
| In 1984, he put his legal skills to good use. He was involved in a dispute with regard to the fact that ], one of the competitors in the Olympic yachting ] trials had left too early (or "barged" at the start) in the ], race. Ed Baird, a fellow competitor, said that Cohan "destroyed Haines in the protest room", but that "We're all still pretty close". Haines was disqualified for the race. At the end of the day, however, Haines qualified for the 1984 Olympics, where he won a gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/robbie-haines-1.html |title=Robbie Haines Biography and Olympic Results |publisher=Sports-reference.com |date= |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> | In 1984, he put his legal skills to good use. He was involved in a dispute with regard to the fact that ], one of the competitors in the Olympic yachting ] trials had left too early (or "barged" at the start) in the ], race. Ed Baird, a fellow competitor, said that Cohan "destroyed Haines in the protest room", but that "We're all still pretty close". Haines was disqualified for the race. At the end of the day, however, Haines qualified for the 1984 Olympics, where he won a gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/robbie-haines-1.html |title=Robbie Haines Biography and Olympic Results |publisher=Sports-reference.com |date= |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> | ||
| Line 66: | Line 68: | ||
| Nineteen years later, in 1991, he was diagnosed with ] of the ]s and nodes, and was diagnosed with the most severe type (4B).<ref name="suzanne1"/> He was not expected to survive.<ref name="boats2002">{{cite web|url=http://features.boats.com/boat-content/2002/05/scuttlebutt-may-17-5801/ |title=Scuttlebutt: May 17 |publisher=features.boats.com |date=May 17, 2002 |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> | Nineteen years later, in 1991, he was diagnosed with ] of the ]s and nodes, and was diagnosed with the most severe type (4B).<ref name="suzanne1"/> He was not expected to survive.<ref name="boats2002">{{cite web|url=http://features.boats.com/boat-content/2002/05/scuttlebutt-may-17-5801/ |title=Scuttlebutt: May 17 |publisher=features.boats.com |date=May 17, 2002 |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref> | ||
| Recalling that he said to himself, "Don, you may be very good in your line of business, but you know nothing about this one", he assembled a team around him that he could rely on in the fight.<ref name="google1"/> Cohan looked for excellent doctors who would allow him to undergo therapy usually considered too grueling for someone his age.<ref name="google1"/> He interviewed doctors, engaged a psychiatrist to help him deal with grief and fear, and told his wife she was his deputy in the struggle.<ref name="google1"/> He went through aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and made it through the cancer successfully.<ref name="boats2002"/><ref name="google2"/> | Recalling that he said to himself, "Don, you may be very good in your line of business, but you know nothing about this one", he assembled a team around him that he could rely on in the fight.<ref name="google1"/> Cohan looked for excellent doctors who would allow him to undergo therapy usually considered too grueling for someone his age.<ref name="google1"/> He interviewed doctors, engaged a psychiatrist to help him deal with grief and fear, and told his wife she was his deputy in the struggle.<ref name="google1"/> He went through aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy, suffered through fatigue, nausea, night sweats, swelling, and pain, and made it through the cancer successfully.<ref name="boats2002"/><ref name="google2"/> | ||
| Then, though only one percent of patients get it a second time—he fell into that category.<ref name="suzanne1"/> Again, he was not expected to survive.<ref name="boats2002"/> Again, he underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy, |
Then, though only one percent of patients get it a second time—he fell into that category.<ref name="suzanne1"/> Again, he was not expected to survive.<ref name="boats2002"/> Again, he underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="boats2002"/><ref name="google2"/> And again, he defeated the cancer.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="boats2002"/><ref name="google2"/> | ||
| ==Sailing, post-Hodgkins== | ==Sailing, post-Hodgkins== | ||
| ] keelboat]] | ] keelboat]] | ||
| In 2002, at the age of 72, he won the |
In 2002, at the age of 72, he won the United States Soling Championship. He also finished 5th in the world championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sailing.org/news/5027.php |title=ISAF : Preview |publisher=Sailing.org |date=September 21, 2002 |accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref><ref name="boats2002"/><ref name="google2"/> | ||
| Taking a step back to ruminate on sailing competitively at his age, Cohan remarked, "I'm aware that I'm on the downwind side of the hill, and the reawakened goal of being a competitive sailor has caused me to stir up banked fires and rejuvenate neglected physical abilities."<ref name="google2"/> | |||
| ⚫ | In 2010, he was still sailing competitively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailysail.com/inshore/10/25925/canadian-bill-abbott-takes-the-soling-worlds-in-marblehead-reports-phil-crebbin |title=Canadian Bill Abbott takes the Soling Worlds in Marblehead reports Phil Crebbin |publisher=''The Daily Sail'' |date= |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> | ||
| ==Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame== | |||
| He was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1"/> | He was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.<ref name="phillyjewishsports1"/> | ||
| ⚫ | In 2010, he was still sailing competitively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailysail.com/inshore/10/25925/canadian-bill-abbott-takes-the-soling-worlds-in-marblehead-reports-phil-crebbin |title=Canadian Bill Abbott takes the Soling Worlds in Marblehead reports Phil Crebbin |publisher=''The Daily Sail'' |date= |accessdate=June 5, 2010}}</ref> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist|2}} | {{Reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 14:37, 6 June 2010
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | U.S.A. |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Sailing |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals |
|
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sailing | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1972 Munich | Dragon class |
Donald "Don" Cohan (born in 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) has been one of the leading yachtsmen in the U.S. He won a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics (becoming the oldest competitor to win a bronze in sailing, at the age of 42), twice defeated Hodgkins Disease, and then came back to win a U.S. sailing championship at the age of 72.
Education and career
Cohan graduated from Amherst College (cum laude; 1951), where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, and from Harvard Law School. He practiced as an attorney, before going into business in real estate. He became President of Donesco Company, a real estate development firm.
Sailing
Cohan began sailing in 1967 at age 37. He was on the U.S. team at the World Championships in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Cohan won the 1972 Olympic trials. Within five years from when he began sailing, he was an Olympic medalist. He was the first Jew to be a member of the United States Olympic Team in Sailing, and the first to win an Olympic medal in sailing.
In the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, he was set to compete when the Munich Massacre resulted in the killing by terrorists of 11 Israeli athletes. All Jewish athletes were warned to leave, and two Israelis slated to compete in sailing were instructed to return home immediately. They handed Cohan their satin, blue and white triangular flag, emblazoned with "Sports Federation of Israel. XXth Olympiad Munich 1972," and said: "You're representing us now. Go win a medal for us."
Competing at the age of 42, he came from far back on the final day and earned a bronze medal as helmsman in the mixed three-person keelboat named Caprice in the 29-foot (8.8 m) Dragon class. He became the oldest person ever to place in Olympic sailing.
He wrote: "The last act of Avery Brundage was to hang an Olympic medal around my neck." Brundage (a Nazi sympathizer) was notorious, among other things, for having reputedly pressured to have the only two Jews on the 1936 U.S. track team, Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller, removed at the last moment on the morning of the 400-meter relay race, so as not to embarrass Hitler and the Nazis with a Jewish victory. Brundage later praised the Nazi regime at a Madison Square rally.
Cohan has also been U.S. champion, European champion, German champion, and Australian champion.
In 1984, he put his legal skills to good use. He was involved in a dispute with regard to the fact that Robbie Haines, one of the competitors in the Olympic yachting Soling trials had left too early (or "barged" at the start) in the Long Beach, California, race. Ed Baird, a fellow competitor, said that Cohan "destroyed Haines in the protest room", but that "We're all still pretty close". Haines was disqualified for the race. At the end of the day, however, Haines qualified for the 1984 Olympics, where he won a gold medal.
Hodgkin's Disease
Nineteen years later, in 1991, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease of the lymph glands and nodes, and was diagnosed with the most severe type (4B). He was not expected to survive.
Recalling that he said to himself, "Don, you may be very good in your line of business, but you know nothing about this one", he assembled a team around him that he could rely on in the fight. Cohan looked for excellent doctors who would allow him to undergo therapy usually considered too grueling for someone his age. He interviewed doctors, engaged a psychiatrist to help him deal with grief and fear, and told his wife she was his deputy in the struggle. He went through aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy, suffered through fatigue, nausea, night sweats, swelling, and pain, and made it through the cancer successfully.
Then, though only one percent of patients get it a second time—he fell into that category. Again, he was not expected to survive. Again, he underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy. And again, he defeated the cancer.
Sailing, post-Hodgkins
In 2002, at the age of 72, he won the United States Soling Championship. He also finished 5th in the world championship.
Taking a step back to ruminate on sailing competitively at his age, Cohan remarked, "I'm aware that I'm on the downwind side of the hill, and the reawakened goal of being a competitive sailor has caused me to stir up banked fires and rejuvenate neglected physical abilities."
He was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 2010, he was still sailing competitively.
References
- "The Sigma Chapter of Beta Theta Pi". Sigmabetathetapi.org. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum". Jewsinsports.org. September 10, 1972. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- "The Stars Fall on Olympic Skippers". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin. Random House, Inc. 2009. ISBN 0307451801. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "Inductions | Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame". Phillyjewishsports.com. August 24, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "June 7, 2004". Latitude38.com. June 7, 2004. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- "An Old Yachtsman with New Resolve; Don Cohan, 55, has overcome a lot. Now He's Plotting a Last Hurrah," The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 5, 1996, accessed June 5, 2010
- https://www.cleverpig.org/back/articles/article_5.pdf "An Olympic Campaign in Less-Than-One-Year", accessed June 5, 2010
- ^ "Seeking Solutions With Suzanne". Suzanne.tv. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- "U.S. Olympic Yachting Medal Record". Ussailing.org. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- "Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame". Brassey's. 2000. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- "1968 Dragon Racing Sailboat CAPRICE". Bone Yard Boats. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- Documentary "Hitler's Pawn: The Margeret Lambert Story", produced by HBO and Black Canyon Productions
- ^ Churchill, Jr., James E. (1983). The Olympic Story. Grolier Enterprises Inc.
- Documentary "Hitler's Pawn: The Margeret Lambert Story", produced by HBO and Black Canyon Productions
- ^ Call of the Ancient Mariner: Reese Palley's Guide to a long Sailing Life. McGraw-Hill. 2003. ISBN 0071388818. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- "Robbie Haines Biography and Olympic Results". Sports-reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "Scuttlebutt: May 17". features.boats.com. May 17, 2002. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- "ISAF : Preview". Sailing.org. September 21, 2002. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- "Canadian Bill Abbott takes the Soling Worlds in Marblehead reports Phil Crebbin". The Daily Sail. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)
External links
Categories:- 1930 births
- Olympic bronze medalists for the United States
- American yacht racers
- Jewish sportspeople
- American Jews
- Living people
- Olympic sailors of the United States Virgin Islands
- People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Amherst College alumni
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Sailors at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Cancer patients