Background
Cohen, Alan Norman was born on December 19, 1930 in Clifton, New Jersey, United States. Son of Samuel and Ida (Phillips) Cohen.
Cohen, Alan Norman was born on December 19, 1930 in Clifton, New Jersey, United States. Son of Samuel and Ida (Phillips) Cohen.
Student, Dartmouth, 1948-1949; AB, Columbia University, 1952; Bachelor of Laws, Columbia University, 1954.
After school, he served in the United States. Army and then went to work for Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton and Garrison in 1957 becoming a partner of the firm in 1964. In 1970 he accepted a position at Warner Communications (now Time Warner, Incorporated) as executive vice president where he was responsible for Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, and Warner Brothers Records. He joined with a group of investors including Warner Chief Executive Officer Steve Ross and purchased the New York Cosmos, which made international headlines by signing superstar Pelé.
In 1974 he became chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Madison Square Garden Corporation, a public corporation which owned the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers.
In 1978, Cohen and a group of investors purchased the New Jersey Nets basketball team From 1985-1987, he served as chairman of the National Basketball Association Board of Governors helping to pioneer the concept of the salary cap.
While not known as an innovator, Cohen did come up with the idea of placing revolving advertisements courtside at National Basketball Association games. He was the founding Chairman of African National Congress Sports in Purchase, New York, a provider of rotational and LED signage at sports facilities.
And served as Company-Chairman of Sportsco International which owns the SkyDome stadium in Toronto.
Cohen served as a trustee or director of various entities including the Independence House, a youth offender rehabilitation facility. The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. The International Center for Photography.
Haifa University.
American Friends of Hebrew University. The Educational Alliance. Columbia College; Columbia Law School.
And the Graduate School of Management of the New School.
He also served as the director of the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. He received Columbia University"s John Jay Award and was elected to Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2001, Cohen was elected to the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
Member board governors National Basketball Association, 1979—1983, chairman, 1986—1988. Board overseers Graduate School Management and Urban Professions. Trustee American Friends of Tel Aviv University, 1999—2004.
Board advisors Pine Crest Preparatory School, 2001. Board directors Jewish Federation South Palm Beach County, 2000.
Married Joan Meryl Fields, November 25, 1953 (deceased). Children: Laurie Elizabeth, Gordon Geoffrey. Married Carol F. Vasil, June 21, 1992.
1 child, Rebecca Samantha.