Joan Faith Treiman Cohn, a native of St. Louis, died Saturday, March 8, 2008, after a sudden and brief battle with an acute form of leukemia, at Summit Hospital in Oakland, Calif. She was 75 and a resident of El Cerrito, Ca., in the Bay Area of San Francisco.

Mrs. Cohn was born in St. Louis on Sept. 27, 1932, the daughter of Dr. Robert and Grace Treiman. She was a graduate of Clayton High School, attended Wellesley College, and received her bachelor of arts degree at Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied archeology with the noted archeologist George Mylanos.

Mrs. Cohn married St. Louisan Arlan Cohn, M.D. in 1955. While Dr. Cohn served as a physician and captain in the U.S. Army in Okinawa, Japan in the 1950s, Mrs. Cohn worked in a psychiatrist’s office. After Dr. Cohn completed his military service, the Cohns moved to El Cerrito, Calif., where she raised a family while assisting in Dr. Cohn’s medical practice. She also assisted her husband’s writing career, which included editing several of his books, including his first and most successful book, Kill as Few Patients as Possible (Ten Speed Press). Over the past few months, she assisted Dr. Cohn in reviewing and editing the original text for the tenth anniversary edition, which was published shortly before Mrs. Cohn’s passing. She was also an accomplished writer in her own right, often writing personalized poems for family members and friends, and wriring a children’s book on the Hanukkah story.

Mrs. Cohn’s children, Ted (Diane) and Jennifer (Mike Dicke) said, “We will forever remember her smile, intelligence, large heart, her many talents and passion for family. She loved art, language, writing poetry, politics, decorating, playing piano, collecting, playing Scrabble, traveling, giving expertly wrapped gifts, attending the ballet, gardening and arranging flowers. Most of all, Joan loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was taken from us too soon and too suddenly, and our family will never be the same. Mom, we love you, and you will forever be in our hearts.”

Barbara Cohn (Robert) of St. Louis, remembers her sister-in-law Joan with fondness and respect. “Joan was intelligent, caring, creative, beautiful, sure of her stands. She deeply cared for her children and grandchildren and I shared her interest in playing the piano. I will also remember her fondness for turquoise jewelry and her thoughtful gifts for family and friends.”

Per Joan Cohn’s request, there were no formal services. Members of her immediate family gathered at the home of her daughter to offer reminiscences about her, and to read some of the special poems she had written over the years.

Survivors include her husband, Dr. Arlan Cohn of San Francisco; son Ted (Diane) of Reno, Nev.; daughter Jennifer (Mike Dicke) of San Francisco, and two granddaughters, Haley and Sydney Cohn and grandson Brandon Dicke, and a sister, Elizabeth (Betsy) Treiman Ellman (Howard) of San Francisco, and brother-in-law Robert A. Cohn (Barbara) of Clayton, Mo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.