Obituary: Judith (Judy) Gavron Cohen

Judith (Judy) Gavron Cohen, of Sandy Springs, Ga., died peacefully on Feb. 15, 2023. Judy was born to Herbert and Janie Gavron on June 23, 1939, and attended Clark Howell Elementary School, North Fulton High School, and the AA Synagogue Sunday School, where she earned perfect attendance annually.

Her sister, Suellen, four years younger, followed her everywhere and engaged Judy in traditional sibling rivalry, loving her despite. Suellen and Judy remained exceptionally close throughout their lives, even living around the corner from each other during most of their children’s youth and playing “maj” together for decades.

In childhood, Judy remained active in her Brownie troop and, into her teens, took dance at Jack Eppley Dance studio downtown. She even took lessons as an adult, performing when possible. During her teen years, Judy worked on the high school yearbook and dated Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology fraternity boys, serving as GT’s TEP sweetheart. Her high school senior superlative stated she was “a stylish figure on campus.” Throughout her life, she maintained fashionista status, especially at the city’s popular discounter, Lohmann’s.

Judy married Jay Senoff in 1959 and had four children within two years. Terri was her firstborn in 1963, and less than two years later, Robyn, Michael, and Joel, the first set of Jewish triplets in Atlanta. The family was a celebrity, garnering an impressive Atlanta Journal article.

Judy was incredibly creative. She had an eye for decor, a flair for flowers, and the ability to cook, especially when entertaining friends and family. She could cook and entertain and passed down her “cooking gene” to her grandson, Jonah, a professional chef. Judy put great energy into feeding the people she loved. As an artist, she possessed a natural gift for make-up application. Her granddaughters relished the drawers of eyeshadow, lipstick, and eyeliner, though they treasured the time she spent with them more. Even at her life’s end, her caregivers maintained her beauty.

As Judy’s children became more independent, she worked as a real estate agent for Harry Norman, where she was recognized as a stand-out salesperson. She had an eye for decor and could help clients reimagine spaces, excelling in the industry.

Coupled with work, Judy volunteered in the Jewish and Sandy Springs communities, participating in the Atlanta Jewish Committee’s reading program at Lake Forrest Elementary and serving as an active volunteer at the Link Counseling Center.

Judy married Leon Cohen, of blessed memory, 34 years ago, establishing a home in Sandy Springs. Leon’s children: Brad, Debbie, and Michael, as well as their spouses and children, became a part of their married life, and each grandchild added joy to their extended family.

More than any other engagement, Judy adored the time spent with her four adult children, especially when they brought their own babies into the world. She loved her seven Senoff grandchildren, one grand-dog, and Leon’s brood. She used to say that being a grandparent was the best job in the world because she could return the kids when tired. She relished every moment, taking those who wanted – shopping for clothes, running to schools to carpool or take home sick kids, babysitting when needed, and imparting in all of them, a love like no other – she had such nachas, experiencing the fruits of her labor.

Judy valued progressive education and Jewish continuity, enrolling all of her children at Galloway and Solomon Schechter in their infancy. She registered them for art classes, dance, and soccer programs, marinating them in beautiful craft while also promoting social skills. She encouraged attendance at Jewish camps, AJCC programming, Jewish education, and BBYO, growing children and grandchildren who’re also engaged.

Her spirited legacy lives on in her sister, Suellen (Richard) Katz, their sons, Andrew (Ana) and Steven, Judy’s children and their spouses, Terri (Eric) Jacobson, Robyn (Ken) Pomerantz, and Joel (Sysser) Senoff of Atlanta, Ga., and Michael (Shelley) Senoff of San Diego, Calif.; Her grandchildren, Jonah, and Hilit Jacobson, Max, Ella and Oscar Senoff, and Joseph and Alan Senoff; nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family. Please direct donations in Judy’s memory to The Link Counseling Center. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

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