By Janet Wetzel
Enquirer contributor

Fran Cohen used to be painfully shy. But spending nearly 50 years volunteering for an array of organizations throughout Cincinnati changed that. Now she's outgoing and loves a good challenge.

And when she commits to a cause, she gives her all.

Hometown Hero Fran Cohen volunteers in the gift shop at the Cincinnati Art Museum. (Enquirer photo/GARY LANDERS)

Her list of volunteer work, accomplishments and awards fills pages. She's been a volunteer 23 years at Cincinnati Art Museum. She still puts in 20-25 hours a week there, working in the gift shop and as chairwoman of volunteers. She also serves on various other committees and events, working as a gallery aide and docent, and helping with fund-raisers.

"Fran is absolutely one of the most hard-working, dedicated people I've ever known," said Debbie Molzberger, museum gift shop retail coordinator. "She's amazing; always goes above and beyond."

The Amberley Village resident, who's serving her fourth term on village council, volunteers on the board of trustees of Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in North College Hill.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati's School of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning, she's active with the Great American Artists. She also is on the board of trustees at Taft Museum of Art, where for 10 years she and her husband, Stanley, have sponsored the annual Stanley and Frances Cohen Lecture Series.

The grandmother of five volunteered 25 years for WCET Action Auction, was on the board of UC's UCATS, and the Kidney Foundation of Cincinnati, and had many roles with Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. She was a 1987 Enquirer Woman of the Year and earned the UC Foundation Trustees Award in 1994.

Cohen, who said her parents were babies when her Russian grandparents settled in Cincinnati, began volunteering as soon as her children entered school, as a way of saying "thanks to this wonderful city that's been so good to us."

"I'm just grateful that I have good health, I have a wonderful family and a wonderful husband who support me," said Cohen, who worked with her husband in his construction business before retiring in 1994. "I love every minute of my volunteer work. I've made so many wonderful friends, and I've gained as much as I've given."

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Do you know a Hometown Hero - someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net or fax to 513-755-4150.