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.

