Milestones

Charles Cogen, the first president of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City and later the president of the UFT's parent union, the American Federation of Teachers, died Feb. 18 at the age of 94.

Mr. Cogen was one of the original faculty members at the Bronx High School of Science. In 1959, he became the president of the 2,000-member Teachers Guild, one of more than 100 groups representing New York City teachers. In 1960, the guild merged with the High School Teachers Association to form the UFT, with Mr. Cogen as president. That same year, he led New York City teachers on a landmark strike to win collective bargaining rights. Mr. Cogen assumed the presidency of the national union in...