MARCH 30 • 2023 | 29
would attract someone who
resonated with that descrip-
tion.”
Gerry and Karen’s first date
involved a stroll around the
Birmingham Sidewalk Sale
and Quarton Lake, a visit
to a coffee shop and ended
with a long schmooze in the
Townsend Hotel lobby.
“Going on a date can feel
like playing tennis,” said Gerry.
“Sometimes you serve a ball
and it’s not returned! But we
connected, kept laughing
together and had lots of things
to say to each other.”
They married in June 1996.
Gerry and Karen have two
daughters, Sarah, 25, and
Sophie, 22, and are active
members of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, where Karen
serves on the board and chairs
the Social Action Team.
Dorie continued to hold
a special place in Karen and
Gerry’s hearts; she passed
away in 2020 just before
the pandemic. Dorie’s hus-
band, Marvin, also played an
important part in their lives.
“Dorie connected me to a
lot of things … most notably
my husband,” Karen said. “
At
the time, these ads were kind
of new and kind of risqué,
but it was so well organized
… and successful! I will for-
ever have a sweet spot for the
Jewish News because of this!”
This column will appear biweekly. If
you’d like to share your “meet-cute”
story, please email burstynwithjoy@
hotmail.com.
Avid cyclists Karen and Gerry
Cohen bike together on
Mackinac Island in 2019.
ABOVE: Karen’s
personal ad that
captured Gerry’s
attention.
Right: Gerry’s
handwritten
response to
Karen’s JN ad.