Merrill R. Cohn, 78, key player in the restoration of San Francisco's cable cars
Hoodoo
July 23, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/
Funeral services will be held Sunday in San Mateo for Merrill R.
Cohn, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who later on in life was
a key player in the restoration of San Francisco's cable cars.
Barely more than a week ago -- on July 14 -- Lt. Col. Cohn was
one of the judges in the annual cable car bell-ringing contest,
held in Union Square.
Lt. Col. Cohn died Wednesday at his home in San Mateo at age 78.
In his military career, he saw service in World War II, in the
Korean War and in Vietnam, retiring from the Army Corps of
Engineers in 1968.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Lt. Col. Cohn graduated from
the old High School of Commerce and, after a short stint at UC
Berkeley, joined the Army during World War II. He was stationed
in the United States for the duration of the war, his family
said, then returned to Berkeley, where he joined the Reserve
Officers Training Corps, graduated from UC in 1949 and was
commissioned a second lieutenant.
During his career as an engineer, Lt. Col. Cohn had a hand in
building many airfields, bridges, landing strips, missile bases
and other infrastructure for the military.
After his retirement, he went to work for the city and county of
San Francisco. According to San Francisco's Cable Car Museum Web
site (cablecarmuseum.org), Lt. Col. Cohn was "senior project
manager for all Municipal Railway Projects. As such, Merrill as
deeply involved with the cable car rehabilitation program,
1982-1984." Lt. Col. Cohn was also a member of the museum's board
of directors.
He was also on the board of directors of the East West Shrine
Football Game and the San Francisco Scottish Rite Bodies.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred of San Mateo; two sisters,
Roberta Kapkin of Foster City and Harriet Max of San Mateo; a
stepdaughter, Andrea Blair of Irvine; a stepson, Douglas Shernock
of Eureka; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Fireside Chapel
of Skylawn Memorial Park, Highway 92 at Skyline Boulevard, San
Mateo.
The family suggests donations to Shriners Hospital, 2425 Stockton
Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817, or to a charity of one's choice.
--
It's a big old goofy world. - John Prine