Adjunct Associate Professor of Mathematics Leon McClain Cohen, 44, died at his Hampden-Sydney home in Virginia July 16 of complications related to pancreatic cancer. Mr. Cohen was born in 1962 in Covington.

He earned an undergraduate degree from Emory University and a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Virginia. He began teaching mathematics at Hampden-Sydney College in 1986. In his 21 years at the college, Mr. Cohen was known as an excellent and revered professor, colleague and community member.

He was chair of the Academic Affairs Committee and of the Lectures and Programs Committee, associate director and interim director on the Honors Program and faculty secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society. In 2002 he received the Thomas E. Crawley Award for devoted service to the college. He also received numerous teaching awards including the Cabell Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Fuqua Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was specially honored by the graduating classes of 2005 and 2007. He will be sadly missed by numerous colleagues, friends and students.

Mr. Cohen served the community as a board member of the Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum of Hampden-Sydney, of the Prince Edward Public School Endowment and of the Farmville Area Community Emergency Services. He also served as tutor in the Prince Edward County VICTORS Literacy training program. Mr. Cohen was preceded in death by parents Philip S. Cohen and Mary T. Cohen.

Surviving are brother Philip E. Cohen of Melbourne, Fla., and uncle George L. Cohen of Atlanta.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. July 19 at Johns Memorial Church. A graveside service will be held in Covington at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 21. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Hampden-Sydney College, directed to the Lee McClain Cohen Endowed Library Fund.