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Theodore B. Cohen, 92, of Narberth, psychoanalyst

Theodore B. Cohen, 92, of Narberth, a psychoanalyst who specialized in treating children and adolescents for more than 60 years, died Wednesday, April 22, of dementia at his home.

Theodore B. Cohen, 92, of Narberth, a psychoanalyst who specialized in treating children and adolescents for more than 60 years, died Wednesday, April 22, of dementia at his home.

Dr. Cohen was well known for his active study and practice, both focused on what he called "the vulnerable child." He was deeply committed to understanding children, how they learned, and how their mental health issues could be overcome.

In 1976, he organized the first international meeting centered on children and adolescents. It was held in Philadelphia.

For many years Dr. Cohen led an important discussion and study group on the vulnerable child, which took place under the auspices of the American Psychoanalytic Association and sometimes at meetings of the Association for Child Psychoanalysis.

The study group centered on "what life events render children more vulnerable to developmental and emotional disturbances, and what interventions help to reduce that vulnerability," according to an online description of the work.

Along with his colleagues Hossein Etezady and Bernard Pacella, Dr. Cohen used the substance of the discussions to edit three volumes of studies on the vulnerable child. The first was published in 1993, the second in 1995, and the third in 1999.

The volumes dealt with such topics as developmental disabilities, young children and violence, prenatal cocaine exposure, problems with foster and day care, but, most important, how the changes in scientific thinking then available could be harnessed to address the ills, the online description said.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Cohen majored in psychology at Brooklyn College. He was drafted into the Army and served during World War II. Because of his undergraduate training, Dr. Cohen was chosen to lead surviving children from the Dachau concentration camp so they could be cared for by the Red Cross, his family said.

He later enrolled in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, graduated in 1951, and completed residencies at major hospitals in the Philadelphia area in 1956. He began his practice in Philadelphia, and was associated with the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia for more than 60 years.

In addition to his practice, Dr. Cohen was an avid sportsman, playing tennis and also table tennis. He advised the U.S. Olympic table-tennis team at the Seoul Games in 1988. He was so interested in the Olympics that he attended every Summer Games from 1960 to 2008.

He also supported many environmental causes.

Dr. Cohen is survived by his son, Charles; two grandchildren; and a brother. Dr. Cohen's wife of 39 years, Barbara, died in 1988. His previous marriage to Sylvia Cohen ended in divorce. She, too, is deceased.

Funeral services were Monday, April 27. Interment was in Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, N.Y.