In Memory of Dr. Alain Cohen: A Message from Timothy Rayner, M.D., SDPC President
It is with profound sadness that I share the news that Alain Cohen, Ph.D., died in a tragic car accident on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Dr. Cohen was deeply devoted to the San Diego Psychoanalytic Center and made invaluable contributions to our community over many years. His beloved film series brought psychoanalytic thought into conversation with cinema, creating gatherings that were at once intellectually vibrant and warmly communal. These evenings reflected his rare gift for blending scholarship, culture, and human connection.
He was a dedicated member of the SDPC faculty and served for many years on the Education Committee, including a period as co-chair of the Progressions Committee. He was also a longtime member of the Board of Directors, serving as Membership Chair and, more recently, answering the call to lead as President of SDPC. In every role, he offered steady leadership, integrity, and deep care for the Center and its members.
Beyond his work with SDPC, Dr. Cohen was a beloved professor for nearly 60 years in the Department of Literature at the University of California, San Diego. He was widely admired as a teacher and colleague, known for his intellectual rigor, generosity of spirit, and enduring commitment to his students.
Those of us who knew Alain will remember his old-world charm, his gentility, and his thoughtful, gracious presence. His legacy lives on in the countless students, candidates, colleagues, and friends whose lives he shaped through his teaching, mentorship, leadership, and friendship.
He will be deeply and dearly missed.
Timothy Rayner, MD
SDPC Board President
|UPDATE| - UCSD will hold an academic memorial on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the University Faculty Club for friends and colleagues of Dr. Cohen.