I am very sorry to hear this news. My deepest condolences to her family. Leslie was very kind to  me, and I very much enjoyed working with her at the American Academy.

Annette Gordon-Reed

Leslie recruited me to an Academy project (Humanities Commission) and was always kind and generous to me.  I was sorry when she left the Academy--she made a genuine and lasting contribution to the organization.  I do not know her family, but hope that they can take comfort at this difficult time in the productive and constructive life she led.

I am grateful to Leslie for all she did to promote the humanities at the American Academy. Her mettle and savvy were an inspiration.My sincere condolences.

I will never forget the dinner that I had with Leslie and Bob Haas in San Francisco in 2012.  Out of that dinner came The Lincoln Project, a highly impactful American Academy study of public higher education in the U.S..  Leslie  was masterful in both creating and guiding the project.  She is one of my all time favorite people. My deepest condolences to her family.

My condolences to Leslie's entire family. She was the person who introduced me to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences when I was elected in 2004. No one could have been more welcoming, and she quickly involved me in many of the Academy's projects. I admired her imagination and her commitment to "convening" as many voices as possible.  Diane Wood

Please accept my condolences. Leslie was a passionate and effective advocate of the arts and sciences, and I enjoyed the many times I worked with her on Academy projects.

I am deeply saddened to learn of Leslie's passing.  My heart goes out to her family and many friends.  I had the pleasure of working with Leslie on the American Academy as a member and then on the Council during her term as CEO and President.  She brought energy and enthusiasm to each meeting and reached out to my wife and me on her frequent visits to see her daughter in the Bay Area.  

Leslie left a wonderful legacy at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  She was passionate about the work and guided many important projects to fruition, which made her widely respected in academic circles and beyond.  My deepest sympathy to her family at her passing but all should take comfort in knowing the impact she had on so many people.

My deepest condolences on Leslie's death to Sarah and her family, as well as to Leslie's brother Gary. During our years at New York University and subsequently in Cambridge and at the AAAS, I have greatly admired Leslie's creative and innovative contributions to the humanities. I will miss her friendship and warmth. May her memory be for a blessing.

I met Leslie only once, during the induction ceremony more than a decade ago. We shared a quick exchange about the need to get more women scientists on board, which made me feel welcomed and supported. I am very sorry to hear we have lost her.

My deepest sympathies to all of Leslie's family. I worked for many years with her as a Council Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She brought real dedication and a special warm touch to the Academy that helped make it the success it is today. Over the years we developed a friendship that I treasure.

Leslie recruited me to help establish the Humanities Indicators, a project which she carefully nurtured for years before I came along.  We did not always see eye-to-eye but she was unfailingly supportive.  The Indicators would never have happened without her.  We will miss her and her enthusiasm for the humanities and here contributions to the Academy. My sympathies to her family.

For many years, Leslie was the driving force for the Academy, challenging it to elevate its national presence and to operate with a clear focus on tackling challenging issues. Her energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and she worked tirelessly to publicize and enhance the impact of the Academy studies.

Very sad news.  I knew Leslie at NYU and then later when she inducted me into the Academy.  She was both impressive and warm,

What sad and surprising news.  I knew Leslie well when I was on the Council and after.  I think she did more than anyone else in recent history to make the Academy a truly national organization. Not surprisingly she stepped on some toes in this effort, but she made the Academy a much stronger organization.  Her influence will last, and that is a good thing.  My condolences to her family.

I'm deeply saddened by this news.   We overlapped for five years at NYU in the 1980s, then in Cambridge through all her years at the Academy.   She was a highly talented and creative professional who achieved great things at the Academy.   And she endured her painful departure with extraordinary  courage and grace.    Deepest condolences to her family.  

I am saddened by this untimely news. I worked with Ms. Cohen-Berlowitz through Goldbreg, LLC. & I remember Leslie's will to doing everything right & perfect, which at times caused us to pull our hair out, but that is expected from a great leader. I remember the good in her & the blessings of lasting friendship I made bc of Leslie through the Academy. Let our hearts be at peace bc hers is.

I am deeply saddened by this great loss. Leslie was warm and welcoming to me from the time I became a member of the Academy, and she engaged me in a number of projects. She was a personable speaker and smart conversationalist who had a remarkable way of connecting people with each other, which made it a pleasure to come to any event at the Academy when Leslie was in charge. My deepest cond

I first met Leslie during my induction into the Academy in 2000.  She sought to make new members feel comfortable in this very different environment, introducing us to many others and clearly explaining what the Academy is all about.  She never failed to encourage new inductees to become involved in the work of the Academy, and many of us did.  Leslie constantly worried about the Academy’s focus and long-term viability.  She continually argued for more Academy involvement in both education and the humanities and solicited many from the business community to participate in strengthening the Academy.  She was a strong presence, always in control and focused on improving things at the Academy.  During her seventeen-year term, first as Executive Director and later as CEO and President, it is not an overstatement to say the Academy was transformed.  Today’s Academy clearly reflects that transformation and is much the better for her years of caring and leadership.

I'm greatly saddened. I knew Leslie well when we worked together at NYU for almost 25 years, from University Heights to Bobst Library. She embodied the qualities that enabled NYU to survive, and later thrive greatly: high scholarly standards, energetic advocacy, and a willingness to work hard while knowing the world did not owe us a living. She also loved life, and laughed easily.