Hildy Parks Cohen

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 12:40pm

Here is a letter from Hildy Parks and Alex Cohen's children that they are allowing me to share with you:

Dear Friends:

Hilda DeForest Parks was born in Washington, DC on March 12, 1926. Her father had died roughly three months before, and her mother Cleo died when Hildy was only nine years old. She was raised by her relatives the Chichesters.

She graduated from Mary Washington College during the war, and became a radio announcer -- losing her southern accent virtually overnight in order to get the job. She then began an acting career that led to a leading role in the London run of MISTER ROBERTS, and among other things, a panelist position on TO TELL THE TRUTH. Of course there were various roles on Broadway, and she had two short-lived marriages, one to Jackie Cooper, and another marriage to a California B-movie actor, which engendered a lifelong distaste for Los Angeles.

In about 1954 she got a part in a Broadway show called BE YOUR AGE produced by Alexander H. Cohen. Dad had noticed her before, but, she was married at the time and he showed remarkable restraint. There was nothing holding him back this time though, and he pursued and won her heart. They were married in 1956, Gerry came along in '57 and Chris in 1960.

One of the first things she did when the family moved to Pound Ridge in 1960 was start a huge vegetable garden (near the ubiquitous backyard bomb-shelter) so that she would be able to feed her children in spite of the threat posed by world events. We have some wonderful pictures from back then, with her lifelong best Pal, her cousin Parks Chrestman, on the stone patio at Bentwood.

In 1967 when Dad sold ABC the Tony Awards, he then found out he needed someone to actually write the show... an easy oversight -- and of course, he turned to the one person he knew he could trust... She wrote the show for the next twenty years -- along with every other special he could sell to anybody, of course including their massive CBS 50th Anniversary series. She did this while maintaining homes on both sides of the Atlantic, raising a family, and somehow keeping a handle on Alex's occasional fits of ambition.

She was an enormously energetic critic of the Vietnam War, involved in many groups and organizations. She taught us how to open our mouths and speak up when things didn't look right to us. She made sure that her boys got solid educations. Before our family trip to Europe in 1971 she got a certified teaching credential, so that she could be personally responsible for making sure we didn't fall behind in our schoolwork. She found incredible joy in showing us the world. She learned Italian one year so that Alex could communicate with his imported cast for RUGANTINO. She also kept the goat from that show, which then had a kid, and we had two goats to go with our six dogs, two birds, cats and a turtle. (She also spoke fluent French, and won every single game of Trivial Pursuit ever played in our house.)

We know a lot of people who think that she was the smartest person they've ever met. Personally, we thought that doing the New York Times crossword puzzle in ink was simply showing off. In the late 1970's during the oil embargo crisis, she bought a bicycle and rode that around Manhattan for the next few years, her way of protecting the environment, and her own amazing individuality. She loved New York, and was on her Community Board and the boards of several charitable organizations, too. Just as she had adored her poodle Max in the late '50's and early '60's, she doted on her first King Charles spaniel, Duchess. There's a backyard garden in Manhattan named after Duchess, and a stone monument in another backyard, in Mougins, France that are tokens of her lasting love.

She could get you around New York City, London, Paris, Rome, Washington D.C., the South of France and the North of Italy. She probably has half of the first dollar she ever earned hidden away somewhere, along with the wrapping paper from Christmas of 1974! Frugal? Yeah, she kinda was. But so generous of spirit and caring for other people.

She supported Alex through the troubled last couple years of his life, even as she was struggling with her own increasing difficulties. She was so fearless and so goddamned tough. In the last few weeks of his life, we promised Dad that we would see to it that Mom would be able to live out her days in their apartment. We moved back into the building after Dad died. We hope people think that Hildy turned out a couple of pretty decent boys.

Hildy Parks Cohen left us this morning at ten minutes before Noon. Sharon & I were beside her. She was 78 years old. These last few years were difficult for her, but she faced them every day with indomitable courage. We realized something this morning, too. These past five years never became a part of who she was... she couldn't take them in, and therefore they are left here. All she leaves this world with are the great memories of the grand times with her beloved Alex, and the times we were all together. And we know in our hearts that their spirits are together again right now, and they are rejoicing in that beautiful reunion.

Love,

Chris & Sharon

[morosco]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 12:44pm

Such a beautiful tribute to such an incredible lady.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 1:14pm

Thanks for sharing with us such beautiful and moving information--you can search the Internet ALL DAY LONG and not find something like that!!!

[juliet]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 3:54pm

Thank you for that moving tribute. So sorry to hear about your mom. I don't know if you remember me, Chris, but I was at school with you in the UK and was a friend of Gerry's. Do get in touch.