[4] His father, Morris Cohen, was the owner of several delis in New York City and in New Jersey; his mother, Rebecca (née Harelick), was a homemaker.

Cole attended high school in his hometown and changed his surname during his youth due to fears of antisemitism.

Upon his return from military service, Cole was employed at a dental office in Berkeley, California, and obtained a undergraduate degree in political science from UCB.

[9][10] Cole's 2021 book, Chasing the Ghost: Nobelist Fred Reines and the Neutrino, was cited by Symmetry magazine as among the year's ten notable science-related titles.

[19] In addition, he coordinated exchanges on terror medicine and domestic security between American and Israeli academics and professionals.

[22][25] He was a fellow of Phi Beta Kappa society and board member of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.