Albert William Cowen

His family and close friends called him Val. His parents, Jacob and Mary, immigrated to the United States from Lithuania with almost nothing in their possession. They had seven children, the two eldest, both daughters, died before Val was born on April 7, 1923. Val’s father died when he was only three years old, and the family left behind in Lithuania all perished in the Holocaust. His family was poor, and one of his earliest memories was the paper route he ran as a child to help support his family while growing up in Utica, New York. Val loved his mother, older brothers Max, Herman, Moe, and Harry, and his aunt, Tante Eva, who lived next door. Val grew up knowing how precious family is, and he carried a love and devotion to family for the rest of his life. 

Val began military service in 1941 and served his country in WWII as a tail and waist gunner on the B-24 bomber in India, Burma and China. He received combat recognition, earning several Air Force medals including the Oak Leaf Cluster. Val returned home in 1945, and on June 2, 1946 married his high school sweetheart, Muriel Telsey. He earned a B.A. in Business at Columbia University while working at the department store, Lohser & Co. He was subsequently employed at a china and glass company, sometimes putting his artistic talents to work painting chinaware. In the early 1960’s, he began what would become a decades-long and successful career in the insurance business for New England Life, earning the designation of Certified Life Underwriter.  

Ask anyone who knew them: Val and Muriel had the most loving marriage that could be. They were affectionate, called each other “Mommy” and “Daddy,” and up until Muriel’s death in 2000 at age 76, held hands as they went on walks together. Val was a loving, supportive, attentive and patient father to his children, Jill, Fran and Jon. He was the kind of father who spent time teaching and playing with each of his children, took their thoughts and opinions seriously, and showed them by his own example how to make the most of their lives. 

Val was an exceptional tennis player, earning many trophies over decades of play. He was also a member of the Rotary Club for many years and enjoyed playing poker with friends. Val was a lifelong learner who studied a diverse range of subjects, including space exploration, opera, and Yiddish, always nurturing his endless intellectual curiosity. When he retired, he studied and invested quite successfully in the stock market. In 2009, at the age of 86, Val earned the title of Life Master from the American College of Contract Bridge. At age 91, he moved from Long Island, New York to Maryland to be close to his daughter, Jill and son-in-law, Michael, whom he loved like a son.

Val also loved his daughter-in-law, Anki, his grandchildren, Brian (Robin), Steven (Kristin), Jonathan, Lauren (Matt), Grayson (Melissa), Daniel (Beth), Lina and Zander; and his great-grandchildren, Jackie, Brody, Emma, Sally, Dylan and Blake; and other family members too numerous to name. Val died in his home at nearly 97 years of age on March 27, 2020. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

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Cowen Funeral available on Zoom 

Time: Mar 29, 2020 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting: 

https://zoom.us/j/517716226

Meeting ID: 517 716 226