In Memoriam | 35
Dr David Cohen
REGISTRAR EMERITUS
Tributes have been paid to an esteemed academic and former Registrar at Keele University , who has died aged 88 .
Dr David Cohen was a senior leader , innovator , and manager who worked at Keele for 36 years in various roles spanning academia and administration , and who was intricately involved in many aspects of life on campus .
Born in Leeds in 1933 , he won a scholarship to Pembroke College , Cambridge , to study Natural Sciences , which he took up in 1953 after two years ’ national service in the RAF .
He was awarded a first in Chemistry and went on to pursue a PhD in organic chemistry , supervised by Nobel laureate Lord Todd , in which he worked on the composition and structure of DNA .
After receiving his PhD in 1959 , David moved to the USA to take up a postdoctoral research post at Yale , where he worked on the development of an early form of chemotherapy .
He returned to the UK in 1961 and began his first academic post as Assistant Lecturer in the Chemistry department at Keele - then the University College of North Staffordshire . He progressed to become Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in Chemistry , after which he moved into university administration , leadership , and management . He became Senior Tutor in 1969 , and was Registrar from 1982 until his retirement in 1997 .
David was a very active contributor to university life outside of those roles , for example he was the Hon Wine Steward for the SCR for many years , and organised wine tastings and other social events .
David had a huge impact on education at Keele and beyond . He championed the foundation year and the principle of keeping academic options open , and advised on this at national level . He was a member of an international network of registrars and advised many academic institutions across the globe . Closer to home , he supported secondary education through membership and chairmanship of school governing bodies .
David also instigated the establishment of Keele ’ s Science and Innovation Park , and was one of its directors for many years . He was a member of the North Staffs ’ Medical Institute Committee and advocated for the establishment of Keele ’ s Medical School .
David met his wife Mary on campus , where she was an Assistant Librarian . They were married in 1965 in the temporary chapel in the Walter
Moberly Hall , followed by a reception at Keele Hall , where they also celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2015 .
Throughout their married life they and their two children – Esther and Adam - lived in several homes on campus . It was after short periods living in one of the campus bungalows and on The Covert that David conceived the idea of a Housing Association to build more family homes on campus .
Shortly afterwards he co-founded the University of Keele Housing Association , and the family lived in Springpool until David became Registrar , when they relocated to Firs Hill . David and Mary later returned to Springpool and remained there . However , they also enjoyed opportunities for world-wide travel during their retirement years .
David passed away in April 2022 after a short illness . He is survived by Mary , Esther and Adam , and four grandchildren . A service of remembrance was held at Keele on 16 September 2022 .