Sandy Cohen, 77, had special love for reading, teaching

Sandy Cohen of Decatur loved reading — everything from great literature to juicy mysteries — and wanted others to enjoy reading, too.

She brought that passion to her work teaching children with learning disabilities, said her daughter, Michele Marill of Decatur.

Mrs. Cohen, who taught at Evansdale Elementary School in DeKalb County for about 30 years, would stay in touch with families as her students grew, she said.

“She would be so proud when her former students would get into good colleges and universities. They had conquered their learning disabilities,” Mrs. Marill said.

Mrs. Cohen, 77, died Thursday of heart failure at Piedmont Hospital. A graveside service was held Friday at Greenwood Cemetery. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Cohen was named Georgia Learning Disabilities Educator of the Year in 1985.

An AJC story about the award described Mrs. Cohen as a soft-spoken teacher who saw herself as a “caring friend” to children who have trouble understanding and using language. Her students, who were average or above average in intelligence, struggled with dyslexia or other language-related disabilities.

The same year, Mrs. Cohen was runner-up for the top national award for an instructor of learning-disabled children.

Other survivors include a son, Ronald Cohen of Silver Spring, Md.; a brother, Louis Spector of Arlington, Va.; and five grandchildren.