Obituary of Robert Charles Kohm

Robert Charles Kohm, born on the 28th of May, 1942, passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 26th at 78 years of age. A beloved husband, a dedicated father and proud grandfather, Bob started life on the Lower East side of Manhattan, the son of Florence and Francis Kohm and the brother of Frank Kohm. He stood out in his studies, his acting, and his athletic talent—he never tired of telling his sons of his ability to pound a stickball “three sewers!” During those years of stickball and 10 cent movies, he met a beautiful young British woman named Muriel McGovern. That first date lasted sixty-five years, with fifty-four of them in marriage and resulted in three sons, Robert, Brian, and Matthew. Hanging up his Spaldeen and stickball bat, he graduated from New York University and earned his JD from Brooklyn Law School. During his University years, Bob excelled in debate, was President of the New York State College Young Democrats and enrolled in the US Army Reserve Officers Training Corps. Upon graduation from Brooklyn Law, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Signal Corps, retiring from the service as a Captain. Upon his Honorable Discharge, Bob spent his career in the pursuit of justice, first as an Assistant District Attorney in the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, then as Law Secretary to the Honorable Justice Edwin Kassoff of the New York State Supreme Court. He was elected Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York, and then to two terms as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, from which he retired in 2018 with the respect of the Bar and the Bench. During those terms, he worked with many great people including Mr. Ira Hofher, Esq. and Mrs. Mary Conway of whom he was both very fond and deeply indebted. He served the United States, State of New York and the City of New York for over 50 years. Bob led a rich life in service to his Church and community. He served as President of the St. Ann’s Holy Name Society, President of the St. Ann’s Parish Council, as President of the Jeffrey P. Cohen Foundation, and as President of the Adlai Stevenson Regular Democratic Club and the Kissena Corridor Civic Association. He was a Third Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Catholic Lawyers Guild, which awarded him the St. Thomas Moore Award in 2019. He was also a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops National Review Board. Of all his religious and community accomplishments and accolades, none made him prouder than being the Head Coach of his sons’ QBHAA football teams, for which he is fondly remembered by many in the St. Ann’s community. Bob and Muriel’s family included his daughters-in-law Elizabeth, Korrine and Paula, their grandchildren Marcus, Joshua, Riley, Sienna, Gisele, and Hudson, and his cat, Mac. All survive and join Muriel in mourning him, as do his many friends. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother, and many friends who have undoubtedly kept a seat open for him at a Heavenly poker table. Bob took pride in his Italian cooking and loved his food and wine, making sure that his sons learned the craft. One of his great passions was travel, taking his family through the backroads and archaeological sites of Mexico, to his adored Murrie’s homeland of England and Wales, to the Bahamas, Italy, France and of course his favorite spot, Aruba, where he and Muriel celebrated their 50th Anniversary with the entire family. He lived a meaningful life that benefitted so many, He will be fondly remembered by all, and his memory will be a blessing to us.