Claudia Cohen

Claudia Lynn Cohen (December 16, 1950 – June 15, 2007) was an American gossip columnist, socialite, and television reporter. She is credited with putting the New York Post's Page Six gossip column on the map. The building housing the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts and Sciences was renamed in her honor in 2008.[1]

Claudia Cohen
Born(1950-12-16)December 16, 1950
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 2007(2007-06-15) (aged 56)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationGossip columnist, socialite, television personality
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1985; div. 1994)
Children1
Parent(s)Robert B. Cohen
Harriet Brandwein Cohen

Early life and education

Claudia Cohen was born to a Jewish family,[2] the daughter of Harriet (née Brandwein) and businessman Robert B. Cohen, the founder of Hudson News and the president of the Hudson County News Company, a magazine wholesaler.[3] She grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, and attended the Dwight School for Girls (now the Dwight-Englewood School) and the University of Pennsylvania.[4][5]

Journalism career

In 1976, she joined the New York Post as a reporter for its fledgling gossip column Page Six. She succeeded Neal Travis as editor of Page Six in 1978. Noted for going for the jugular, and creating a column with savvy and a sharp edge, Cohen is credited with putting Page Six on the map. Cohen left the Post in 1980 to start her own short-lived gossip column, I, Claudia (a play on words of the book title I, Claudius) at a rival newspaper, the New York Daily News. While that column was not a success, it did maintain Cohen's profile. Cohen was a regular on Live with Regis and Kelly and an active member of the Manhattan and Hamptons social scene.[6]

Death

Cohen died on June 15, 2007 from ovarian cancer.[7]

Personal life

In 1984, Cohen began a relationship with businessman Ronald Perelman. The two married in 1985, and had one daughter, Samantha. After nine years, the couple divorced, and Cohen reportedly received a settlement of $80,000,000 (eighty million U.S. dollars).[8]

Cohen later dated former U.S. senator from New York state, Al D'Amato.[9]

At the request of Ronald Perelman, the University of Pennsylvania renamed the historic Logan Hall, sitting next to College Hall and originally named after James Logan, secretary to William Penn, "Claudia Cohen Hall," much to the surprise and dismay of some Penn faculty, alumni, and students. The rear of the newly renamed building overlooks Perelman Quadrangle.[10][11]

gollark: There isn't just gold *everywhere* underground.
gollark: Was it just a really gold-rich area for some reason?
gollark: How do you even *get* pure gold from arbitrary ground locations, in significant quantities?
gollark: The *true* form of cereal bars was of course covered up by the lace person.
gollark: It could very much *not* be perceived that way, in a world where culture came out differently.

References
  1. Williams, Alex (2008-07-06). "At Penn, the Subject Is Gossip". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  2. Morgan, Spencer (June 20, 2007). "Remembering Claudia Cohen: Gossip's Most Generous Hostess Was Also Just Genuinely Good". New York Observer.
  3. Hevesi, Dennis (2012-02-05). "Robert B. Cohen, Hudson News Chain Founder, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  4. Marquis Who's Who 2006 "Claudia Cohen" retrieved from Galenet 16 June 2007
  5. Staff. "Claudia Cohen, Reporter, Weds Ronald Perelman", The New York Times, January 12, 1985. Accessed June 14, 2018. "She graduated from the Dwight School and the University of Pennsylvania."
  6. Olshan, Jeremy (16 June 2007). Gossip Will Be Heavenly: Ex-Six-Pager Cohen Dies, New York Post
  7. Fox, Margalit. Claudia Cohen, 56, Socialite and a Reporter of Gossip, Is Dead. The New York Times. June 16, 2007.
  8. Fortune "THE TROPHY WIFE IS BACK--WITH BRAINS" 03/04/95 (retrieved through Australia New Zealand Reference Centre)
  9. Fortune, Ibid
  10. Wu, Cecily. Logan Hall to become Claudia Cohen Hall The Daily Pennsylvanian. March 19, 2008
  11. Wu, Cecily. What's in a name? A lot, say profs, alums. The Daily Pennsylvanian. March 27, 2008.
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