Robert Cohen

Greater Philadelphia Cremation

Aubrey Cohen

Dianne Tankle

Dr. Robert M. "Bob" Cohen, M.D., accomplished neurosurgeon and mainstay of the Philadelphia folk music scene, died on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, at the age of 86.
Born in Lancaster, PA, on Aug. 22, 1939, Bob grew up in Elkins Park, outside of Philadelphia. He was a talented musician, athlete, and student while growing up, despite a learning disability.
After high school, Bob went to Penn State University, where he was one of the founders of the school's folk music society, started in a production of the musical "Paint Your Wagon," and was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
He attended Thomas Jefferson Medical College for medical school and residency, then served in the U.S. Navy, working at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia. After discharge from the Navy, he started a neurosurgical practice at Rancocas Valley Hospital, in Willingboro, N.J. He also lectured regularly at Jefferson Medical College.
Bob married Beverly Shapiro in 1963, and they had a daughter, Elissa, in 1968, and a son, Aubrey, in 1973, before separating in 1976.
His main love outside of work and family continued to be folk music. "Dr. Bob" played guitar and banjo, sang with a distinctive deep, booming voice, attended sings, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and the Spring Thing gathering each Memorial Day weekend, and started an annual fall weekend gathering.
Through folk music, Bob met the love of his life, Dianne Tankle, and they got married in 1988.
Bob subsequently served as a board member and then president of the Philadelphia Folksong Society, and worked with Dianne to help found Folk Alliance International and the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance.
Bob and Dianne also opened up their Center City Philadelphia home to host an annual Thanksgiving sing that drew more than 400 people and put up scores of folk musicians visiting Philadelphia for concerts, including Pete and Toshi Seeger, Peggy Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, Tom Paxton, Utah Phillips, Ani DiFranco, and many, many others.
Bob continued to enjoy sports. He bought a house on Lake Harmony, in the Poconos, where he and his family enjoyed water skiing on the lake and downhill skiing at Big Boulder and Jack Frost ski areas. He also traveled to ski resorts in New England, Canada, and Europe. He was a passionate fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State Nittany Lions football.
Bob loved telling stories and did it well, although he often embellished. In conversations and meaningful moments, he often broke out into a song that fit the situation.
In 1980, Bob was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, which eventually forced him to abandon his surgical practice and athletic passions. But he continued to play music, switching from guitar and banjo to autoharp as his primary instrument.
He died peacefully from heart failure at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, with family and friends around him.
Bob is survived by his wife, Dianne, daughter, Elissa Arch, of Harrisburg, PA, son, Aubrey, of Seattle, Elissa's husband, Ken, and sons, Mitchell and Adam, Aubrey's wife, Fiona, and children, Jed and Harriet, and Bob's sister, Sue Wieseneck, and brother, Jeff.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 16 at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St., in Philadelphia, with shiva to follow at the synagogue and continue from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 17 in the social hall at Dianne's building. The service will be live streamed here: https://rodephshalom.org/livestream/ In lieu of flowers, please direct contributions to the Philadelphia Folksong Society (https://pfs.org/support/) or Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1266040).

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Robert Cohen Obituary | Greater Philadelphia Cremation