Obituary

Rebecca Roberts Cohen
May 11, 1958 - Nov. 18, 2010

Rebecca Bond Roberts Cohen, a lifelong Berkeley resident and physical education teacher, died peacefully at her home on November 18 after a three-year battle with cancer.

She taught physical education at Berkeley’s Berkwood Hedge School for 22 years, and adaptive physical education for the Mount Diablo Unified School District for five.

“Becca was a talented and dedicated physical education teacher who shared a passion for exercise and fitness with all of her students,” said Berkwood Hedge School director Jane Friedman. “She was part of the fabric of the Berkwood Hedge School community as a committed teacher, dedicated parent and loving friend.”

Roberts Cohen earned an adapted physical education specialist credential in 2007 after completing courses at Oakland’s Holy Names College and San Francisco State University, and a BS degree in physical education from Sonoma State in 1986.

In addition to teaching, Roberts Cohen created Sesame Chew Crispies, one of the first organic energy bars in the early ’90s, and was a licensed massage therapist. A gifted outdoor athlete, Roberts Cohen was an avid rock climber, scaling some of Yosemite’s most difficult peaks in the late ’70s. Just one and a half seasons after picking up cycling, she qualified for and competed in the1982 National Road Race as one of the top cyclists in Northern California. She became a competitive swimmer and rower after a knee injury sidelined her nascent bicycle career.

In September 2007, Roberts Cohen was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a rare form of uterine cancer. She helped produce three benefits that raised nearly $30,000 for Leiomyosarcoma Research.

Roberts Cohen is survived by her mother, Janet Roberts of Berkeley; father, Harry Roberts of Berkeley; two brothers, Carl Roberts of Portland and Norman Roberts of New York City; a daughter, Abigail Cohen; step daughter, Isabel Cohen of Oakland; husband, Steven Cohen; and a host of her friends and companions.

Donations may be made to:
LMSarcoma Direct Research or LMSdr
Post Office Box 52697, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74152
http://www.lmsdr.org/donatenow.php
or the donor’s choice of charities.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, January 16 from 2-4 pm
St. John's Church
2727 College Ave. (at Garber)
Berkeley, CA 94705

San Francisco Chronicle 12/12/10