Mel Cohn is my cousin thru marriage. I have known Mel for 50 years. Our Washington State families have visited Ohio relatives several times over the years, usually staying about a week.  I retired in 2014, I called Mel, made plans to stay in an RV park for 3 weeks, near Euclid, where he lived.  He cleared his calendar, took us under his wing & planned an outing for EVERY day.  The RV park is an hour drive to Euclid.  Arriving every morning at a prearranged time, Mel had the table set for breakfast.  Cantaloupe, bagels & and a piece of smoked salmon. After breakfast & an hour of visiting , off we went every morning, sometimes he drove, sometimes we drove. We introduced Mel to geocaching . He was so excited every time we found a cache, he could hardly wait to look thru the container.  So full of questions, learning all about geocaching.  Mel was fascinated with the GPS. “The lady in the sky”, as he called her.  He would say “she’s right!”, “ She’s a smart lady”.  One day he took us to the Cuyahoga County Fair.  Mel said he liked listening to the school bands.  He must have like listening with his eyes closed. At the fair, we walked for miles, ate ice cream & watched a chariot race.  One day, arriving at Chagrin Falls, getting out of the car, I said you have a low tire. He thought that was so funny that I noticed it. Before we got to his house the next morning, he had gotten up, drove to the tire shop, & had it aired up.  He mention that story & laughed every time we talked on the phone.  One day he took us to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Leaving the Museum, it was pouring rain. Mel told us to stay there, he would get the car & pick us up.  No reason for all of us to get wet. Mel was 87 years old at the time.  Mel made arrangements for us to visit with all of our relatives.  He sat back, so patiently & let us talk for hours.  Mel knew Cleveland & the surrounding area inside & out! The best tour guide you could ask for!!
RIP Mel. You will be missed.  Kathy Kastning.

I Love this pic of Mel, me, and Michele. Of course it’s another Special family occasion celebrating her  B-Day in  Dec. 2023..
It’s extra special because we got him to smile. He usually didn’t smile in pictures, but for this one he did,  Love you Mel. I will miss those special occasions with him and my sis carrying them in my memories for always.

This picture of Mom and  Cousin Mel is the way I will always think of him, with her, TOGETHER 💞
She is the reason he became such an integral part of  ALL our Family gatherings. She also invited him to attend things with her friends and they developed friendships with  him as well.  This started as far back as I can remember growing up, then passed on to me and my  own family.
He was sweet,  kind, and always interested in what my friends  and I were doing.. Then  when I had my own family, Mel had that same sweet  kindness and interest in what they and their friends were doing. That is why many of  my friends and their friends remember him so fondly too.

I met Mel at my best friends wedding 13 years ago . He was a new, elderly family member that I hadn’t remembered encountering before. I quickly learned that Mel was Cleveland’s most loyal fan, attending every festival, event and spent his days wandering the streets of downtown. 
We become fast friends because my job is promoting Cleveland and encouraging locals to explore and share their love of their city with everyone they come in contact with. 

Every year since then, Mel and I would cross paths impromptu downtown. He would walk by our visitors center looking in for me, and I’d be looking for him when I went out and about to meetings. We always made time for a quick catch up and a photo to send Ariel. The photos were important to me because I knew the day would come when Mel wouldn’t be able to walk and I knew how happy it made him. 

Mel lived a simple life and made sure he filled his days with sights and people and energy to keep him young. He walked everywhere, miles and miles, until he was 96 years old. Every chance encounter reminded me that life is what you make of it. His sweet spirit and love of people and Cleveland was contagious. For whatever reason, we understood each other.  
Walking around downtown won’t feel the same without him. I’ll probably always still be on the lookout, hoping he shows up in other ways. Mel will forever hold a special place in my heart. Rest in peace, sweet friend. Thank you for your friendship- it meant more to me than you’ll ever know. I promise to keep Cleveland’s spirit alive in your honor ❤️

I think my fondest memory of Mel was that he always would want to know how everyone in the family was doing when we talked. He liked watching baseball and was excited that the Guardians were in the playoffs. He also really enjoyed going downtown to restaurants, museums and occasionally to the casino to play the “penny” slots. He loved just talking to people!

I met Mel through the Congregation Mishkan Or caring community. We spoke once a week. He was so engaging and kind. He called me one day and told me he was coming to the Schnurmann House picnic and that he wanted me to sit at his table. He made sure that that seat was saved for me . And we had a delightful conversation and he was so charming and gracious and he had a great time and I am better for knowing him.

To the family of Mel Cohn,
My sincere condolences to everyone that  knew and loved this kind  man. I had the privilege of getting to know him through the caring committee at Congregation Mishkan Or. We've been talking on a weekly basis for months. He was so delightful and caring and engaging always thanked me for my calls and inquired how I was doing . Again, my deepest sympathy to the family,

May his memory always be for a blessing.
Bonnie Chizek

Mel was always a gracious host whenever our family visited Cleveland.  He loved showing us all the sights.  We saw all his favorite museums, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Tower City and the dancing fountains and he had a special fondness for Chagrin Falls.  We went there many times.  He loved talking to everyone and they loved talking to him. 

We convinced him to fly out to Seattle one summer in 2000.  He’d never been on a plane before.   Randy and I and Gary and Nancy took a cruise with him up to Alaska.  Upon reaching Skagway we boarded a train, then a bus and travelled overland, eventually making our way to Anchorage.  It was a wonderful trip and Mel really enjoyed himself.  

He was a wonderful man. So kind and generous.  We will all miss him.  

Carol, Randy and family

OBITUARY

Melvin Cohn

5 January, 1927 – 10 October, 2024

Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel

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