Ron Cohn departs: “It’s time.”

Program Director Ron Cohn is retiring from the Sonoma Developmental Center next month, after 36 years of service.
Cohn came to SDC right after graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in psychology, and has worked there ever since. During his early years, he studied for and received his Psychiatric Technician’s license from Santa Rosa Junior College and went on to became Senior Psychiatric Technician. As such, he worked in a variety of departments at the Center, including being Residence Manager, working with Supported Employment Services, Vocational Services and Adult Day Services. As Program Director of two Nursing Facility (NF) programs, he was responsible for overseeing seven NF residential units, serving the more medially fragile individuals at the facility. He was also involved with special events at the center, including the annual Golf Tournament fundraiser, which benefits SDC’s employee recognition program.
Renee Bliss, who will become the new Program Director, called him a mentor. “For the last four promotions, I’d get promoted into the job he left,” she said. “He is a really calm and sensitive person. He never got anxious and upset. He was always very positive, always thinking of different ways he could serve our clients.”
For Bliss, the biggest challenge is following in his footsteps. “He makes it look easy when stepping into a new job.” She said the Center is a caring, special place. “Last night was our talent show. I took pictures of all the performers, 14 who played musical instruments or sang. One of the clients who doesn’t speak, and doesn’t move–he played the harmonica. One of the other clients sang “Imagine,” and he played the tune. So that’s what I love. We really love working here. It’s a little family of people who work and live here and the clients get really excellent care here.”
As to why Cohn is retiring, according to Karen Litzenberg, Assistant to the Executive Director, Cohn said he feels “it’s time.” Presently he is using up some vacation time, but Litzenberg said, “There are some other things he wants to do now, such as traveling with his high school sweetheart and wife of 30 years, playing lots of golf, hiking, gardening, and taking photographs.”