Arnold B. Cohen, 72, Villanova law professor

Arnold B. Cohen, 72, of Valley Forge, a professor at Villanova School of Law for 41 years who was an innovator in the use of computer technology in the classroom, died of complications of leukemia Tuesday, Aug. 23, at home.

Mr. Cohen specialized in bankruptcy, secured lending, and e-commerce.

In 1997, a law textbook he authored on bankruptcy was published as an electronic casebook employing hypertext technology, which enabled students and other users to link to cases, statues, forms, and other relevant materials early in the Internet era.

Mr. Cohen contributed to several other books on bankruptcy, and wrote numerous articles on bankruptcy and secured lending issues. He also prepared a series of simulated legal discussions and interactive problems available on the Internet. He often lectured to continuing education law classes. He retired in July.

"The love of his life was teaching," his wife, Rona Solomon Cohen, said. He brought practicing attorneys into his classroom, and many of his students went on to be judges and senior partners at law firms, she said.

His wife, a former software developer, said he had used computers since the 1970s and developed ways to use them with his students.

Mr. Cohen grew up in Melrose Park and graduated from Cheltenham High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brown University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was editor of the law review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

After graduating, he was a law clerk to a federal judge in Philadelphia for a year and then taught at the University of California School of Law, Berkeley, for a year. He was with the firm of Mesirov, Gelman, Jaffe & Levin in Philadelphia before joining the Villanova faculty in 1970.

When their children were growing up, his wife said, he drove the carpools and was involved in their activities.

He was a sports photographer for his college paper, she said, and later photographed their children's sports games. More recently he took photos of their grandchildren's sports competitiions.

In addition to his wife of 47 years, Mr. Cohen is survived by daughters Julie Norris, Jessica Dudley, and Alison Rosenzweig, and eight grandchildren.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks Memorial Chapel, 6410 N. Broad St. Burial will be in Montefiore Cemetery.

Donations may be made to Abramson Cancer Center, Trustees of University of Pennsylvania Hospital, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia 19104.