NEW YORK — Norman Wolfe, co-founder of global communications firm Cohn & Wolfe, passed away on Wednesday, June 4. 

Wolfe founded Cohn & Wolfe with Bob Cohn in Atlanta in 1970, after a career in journalism where he became executive editor of the Orlando Sentinel. His passion was public affairs and he directed the crisis communications efforts for Cohn & Wolfe.

In 1984, Wolfe & Cohn sold their firm to Y&R. Wolfe retired from his position as vice chairman of Cohn & Wolfe in 1992 and continued to provide counsel on a number of clients for a number of years. Cohn & Wolfe joined WPP in 2000, when the holding company acquired Y&R Brands
 
Wolfe worked behind the scenes on some of Atlanta’s biggest public projects including the fourth runway at Hartsfield International Airport, widening of the city’s major interstates, the long struggle to build Georgia 400 and ‘Get Gwinnett Wet’ in support of Gwinnett County.

“Norm was a true visionary, baking branding and creativity into the DNA of the agency from the very start,” recalls Cohn & Wolfe CEO Donna Imperato. “He and Bob created a powerful consumer marketing agency that grew from Atlanta to New York and then went on to become a global leader. Our condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time."