Obituary of Nace Cohen

The Greatest Man of the Greatest Generation, Nace Brian Cohen, passed peacefully at his home on Saturday surrounded by his loving daughters and family. Nace's life was full of love and adventure and he was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was a War ll hero, paratrooper with Company "E", 517th Parachute Infantry, a small-engine pilot, a rancher in Baja California, an entrepreneur, CEO, artist, musician, traveler, and other talents too many to be mentioned. In 1945, Nace received the Bronze Medal of Honor for his heroic achievement in action near Diedenberg, Belgium, for crawling through heavy snow and lack of cover to take a group of enemy soldiers. He was a true philanthropist and served as President of LASHA (Los Angeles Sephardic Home for the Aged), and on the Board of Directors of The Jewish Home for the Aged and The City of Hope. In 1967, Nace Cohen,with a sales staff of one, an office staff of one and one truck, founded Progressive Produce as a pioneering vertically-integrated potato and onion production company. The company was later sold to Chiquita Brands International. Upon retirement, he became a creative bronze and precious stone sculptor, and one of his artworks is on display at the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda. He was forever young and continued to take piano and clarinet lessons well into his late eighties. He is survived by his beloved daughters: Vicki Niemi, Rodell Jackson, Jacquie Cohen and Suzanne Tracy, stepson Marc Pakin, his seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was married to Rebecca Comerchero and Francine Pakin. He will be forever missed and dearly loved.