Steve Cohen - The Rising Sport of Rugby

Steve Cohen - The Rising Sport of Rugby

Author: Shirley Wachtel April 3, 2023 Duration: 46:16

Steve Cohen has over 50 years of involvement in rugby.  He has been the catalyst in developing player safety, refereeing, and promoting the game at the grassroots level.  USA Rugby Eagle, Steve Hiatt, has said that “No conversation could take place regarding administrators and contributions to American Rugby without Steve’s name being mentioned.”  Among his many contributions was pioneering rugby safety by publishing the “Safer Rugby Program” to promote and encourage safe rugby practices.  Steve’s work in the USA Rugby Collegiate Committee led to the creation of the Division 2 playoffs.  He formed the National Small College Rugby Organization to serve Division 3 which put small colleges on the map and gave them a platform to grow and succeed as well, inspiring coaches and players. NSCRO was rebranded as National Collegiate Rugby in 2020 and now serves more than 700 men’s and women’s college teams.  In addition, Steve refereed for nearly 40 years and was a charter member of the USARFU Referees& Laws Committee.  Steve supported the growth of women’s rugby as head referee for the first five Women’s National Championships, writing articles for Rugby Magazine and providing training for women referees.


You might pass them on the street or sit next to them in a cafe, never knowing the depth of their journey. EXTRAordinary PEOPLE is built on a simple, powerful idea: remarkable stories are held by everyday individuals. Host Shirley Wachtel sits down with people from all walks of life-entrepreneurs, artists, community organizers, teachers, and quiet heroes-who have chosen to leverage their unique talents to impact the world around them. This isn't about celebrity; it's about the substance of lived experience. In each conversation, guests share their narratives in their own words, detailing the specific hardships and obstacles they faced and, more importantly, the resilience and choices that allowed them to rise and create change. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of an intimate, revealing dialogue where vulnerability meets triumph. Shirley guides these discussions with empathy, drawing out the nuanced lessons within each story. The result is a collection of authentic accounts that collectively explore themes of perseverance, innovation, and human connection across society, business, and personal growth. Tune in not just for inspiration, but for a genuine sense of what it means to contribute something meaningful, and how ordinary moments can build an extraordinary life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 44

EXTRAordinary PEOPLE
Podcast Episodes
Juliette Tolode—Living the American Dream (EP.03) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:11
Juliette Tolode is an Assistant Nurse Manager at Calvary Hospital/The Dawn Greene Hospice. She has achieved the "American Dream" journeying alone from Benin, Africa to establish a full life with friends and family as an…
Michele Schwartz--Breast Cancer Survivor (EP.02) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:16
Michele Schwartz is a 38 year old elementary school teacher, mother of two boys, ages 5 and 2 years old, and is married to her husband of 10 years. In December of 2018, Michele was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. W…
Santi Buscemi-Educator, Author, Lecturer (EP.01) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:41
Santi Buscemi is the son of Italian immigrants from Sicily. Former chairperson of the English Department at Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey where he still teaches, Santi has authored several college textbo…