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Update (Feb. 10, 1999): I have finally found two pictures of Paul. These were given to me by Mickey Cohen, daughter-in-law of Paul, and the wife of his son, Mit.
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Paul Jacob Cohen was born in Krakow, Poland on May 20, 1899 to Sol and Nettie P.Cohen. He died August 25, 1952 in Norfolk, VA where he had lived for 32 years. There is not much information on Paul or his family other than what was in his obituary. The obituary states that he had two brothers, Abraham of Tel Aviv, Israel and Isaac of Australia. The date of Paul's obituary is Aug. 26, 1952.
Family stories have it that Paul changed his name when he came to the United States around 1920 and adopted the name "Cohen". I was told that the original last name was "Kupdech". I'm not sure of the correct spelling, but that's how it sounded when told to me by Victor Cohen's daughter. Paul was sponsored to the US by his uncle, Victor Cohen.
Paul was a baker and worked during the summers at the Catskill Mtns. and in Florida. He married Celia SWERSKY before 1926 in Norfolk, VA (I think). They had six children, one of which died as a baby. Hyman and Shirley were born in Norfolk, VA. From what I can gather Milton, Rose and Abraham were born in New York (Liberty, NY and Jeffersonville, NY). I'm not sure where the oldest girl was born or where she died, but from my grandmother's birth certificate I have concluded that she was the first born of the six. Going by the last three kids' birth dates I am assuming that Paul worked at the Catskills between 1930 and 1932.
I am really hoping someone somewhere out there has more information on Paul. If you are that "someone" please e-mail me!
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