Trina Polen Cohan died Oct. 8 after battling MDS for several years with extraordinary strength and dignity. She was 84.

Trina was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 1, 1936 to Esther (Brodsky) Polen and Bernard Polen. A lifelong scholar, she obtained her bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s degree in the psychology of reading from Temple University. She was a remedial reading and writing tutor at Germantown Friends School, Penn Charter and Greene Street Friends. She also volunteered at an adult literacy program.

Trina started each day with a mug of coffee sprinkled with large marshmallows as she read the newspaper and listened to the weather report on her transistor radio. She loved to read (real books, not electronic), especially mysteries of all genres. She enjoyed puzzles of all types — cryptograms, crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaw-and never missed “the funnies.” She was an incredible cook who baked her love into each meal and dessert. Every summer, her homemade peach pies were fought over to the last bite.

She was patient, smart, gentle, lovely, strong, principled, intelligent, kind, a great listener and an ardent Democrat. She was not known for her sense of direction. She loved spending time on boats exploring different places with her husband Donald. Trina also loved spending time on Martha’s Vineyard where she had been a Vineyard Haven resident for 50 years.

Above all, she was an exceptional daughter, wife and mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Rachel Cohan Albert, Benjamin Cohan and Susannah Cohan McQuillan; son in laws, Jonathan Albert and Joe McQuillan; daughter in law, Judy Qiuand; grandchildren Sarah Albert and her husband Matthew Cantatore, Jake Albert, Minori and Manna

Cohan and Will and Matthew McQuillan. She is also survived by her brother, Stephen Polen and his family, Kara McQuillan and her family; Benjamin’s stepdaughter, Anwen Dengand, and several first cousins.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Donald S. Cohan in 2018.

Trina’s family is grateful to her exceptional health care team at the Abramson Cancer Center, Dr. Selina Luger, Liz and Ali and the nurses at Valley Forge Medical Center who provided exemplary care and friendship. The family is forever indebted to the anonymous Red Cross donors for their extraordinary generosity of platelets and blood even during the Covid crisis.

She will be missed by all who have loved and cherished her throughout their lives.

A memorial service will be determined at a future date.

Donations can be made to The Musser Blood Center at the American Red Cross, 700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, Pa., 19123 (Attention Helen Munizza Re: HLA patient, Trina Cohan)