This memorial tribute examines the life and scholarly contributions of Gershon David Cohen (1924-1991), historian and former Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Through personal recollections spanning thirty-four years of acquaintance, the author analyzes Cohen's distinctive approach to Jewish scholarship and his institutional vision. The methodology employed is biographical reflection, drawing on direct observation and professional interaction to illuminate Cohen's intellectual character. The study reveals Cohen's commitment to synthesizing minute textual analysis with comprehensive historical vision, seeking unified theories to connect diverse periods of Jewish learning from ancient Yavneh to modern New York. Key findings demonstrate Cohen's aristocratic scholarly temperament, characterized by perfectionism and ambitious intellectual scope, which paradoxically contributed to his sense of incompleteness as many projects remained unfinished. The analysis explores Cohen's religious worldview, identifying his ideal in the medieval "courtier-rabbi" model exemplified by Shemuel Hanagid—learned leaders who wielded both secular influence and religious authority. The author concludes that Cohen's transition from university professor to Seminary Chancellor reflected his vision of creating a modern center of Jewish learning comparable to historical intellectual centers like Baghdad and Cordoba, though this grand vision remained unrealized due to his premature death.