We learned this morning of the passing yesterday of Eli Cohen, the structural engineer who served as President of Cohen-Barreto-Marchertas, founded in 1969, and remained a principal after it merged with Thornton-Tomasetti to become its Chicago office in 1993.Described today by Robert Johnson of Bowman, Barrett as "one of the giants of Chicago structural engineering ", Cohen worked with such prominent architects and projects as Harry Weese (1100 Lake Shore Drive), Kenzo Tange, (the AMA Building), Phillip Johnson, (190 South LaSalle), DeStefano/Bofill (77 West Wacker), Cesar Pelli (181 West Madison), and Stanley Tigerman (The Chicago Bar Association Building), to name just a few. His work included over 70 high-rises and 350 major projects. He was recipient of numerous honors, and several lifetime achievement awards, including one from the Chicago Building Congress, from whose website we've borrowed the accompanying photo.
I met Mr. Cohen only once, last year, when we were both judges for the Annual Awards of the Structural Engineering Association of Illinois (SEAOI), of which he was a past president. I was bowled over by his history, his knowledge, and his generous, patrician grace. He will be missed.
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Death notice from the newspaper: Eli W. Cohen, age 80. Structural Engineer Par Excellence. Cherished husband of Georgia, nee Simon for 50 years; loving father of Larry (Sharon), Lisa (John) Nicolson and Diana (Wes Slaymaker) Cohen; adoring papa of Xander and Celia Nicolson, Talia and Aaron Cohen, Arlen and Rocky Slaymaker; fond brother-in-law of Judith Einbinder; beloved uncle and cousin of many in United States and Israel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to ACE Mentor Program of Illinois - The Eli W. Cohen Scholarship Fund C/O Kathleen Fanning at De Stefano and Partners, 445 East Illinois St, #250 Chicago, IL 60611. Service Tuesday 11 a.m. at Beth Emet Congregation, 1224 Dempster Street in Evanston, IL 60202. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery Skokie, IL. For info - The Weinstein Funeral Home, North Shore Chapel Wilmette, 847-256-5700
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