George Allan Cohen died peacefully on November 2nd at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut, where he served as a beloved gastroenterologist for over 40 years. Born on April 19, 1942 in Denver, Colorado and raised in Great Neck, New York, he graduated from Dickinson College with a degree in art history, then went on to medical school at the University of Buffalo, with a residency at Yale.
George met Jinny (Hayman), the love of his life, in 1967 at Martell's, a pub in Amagansett, NY during the summer before his final year of medical school. His opening line was “nice culottes.” They were married the following June, and over the next several years, had two boys, Gregory Andrew and James Alexander.
After serving as a doctor in the army, stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, he moved his family east to Redding, Connecticut, where he opened a private practice with offices in Ridgefield and Sandy Hook.
George — a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle — was an expert fly fisherman, avid birder, world traveler, and accomplished bagpiper. His love of fly fishing took him to his favorite rivers around North America, among them the Restigouche and Miramichi in Canada, and the Delaware in the Catskills of New York, to which he, his sons, and dearest friends have made an annual pilgrimage every Memorial Day Weekend for the last four decades, to catch the elusive Green Drake hatch (and perhaps a few trout while they’re at it).
George was a true “renaissance man.” He bestowed his interests in art, film, history, nonfiction, nature, and esoteric trivia on his two sons and anyone else he came into contact with. And he was never without a hobby, among them natural stonewall masonry, painting miniature bagpipers and soldiers, and yes, tying trout flies. His two greatest passions came with a pedigree. George was an esteemed member of both The New York Angler’s Club and the Celtic Cross Pipe Band.
George loved living in Redding. He enjoyed taking long walks down Valley Road with his dogs Max and Woody, attending events at the Mark Twain Library, and inviting his many friends over to watch birds and tell stories over cigars and Lagavulin in his gazebo beside the pond.
He and Jinny would often stray far from their home in the woods of New England. For five decades, they enjoyed traveling the world together, from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, from Dublin to the Galapagos, and almost everywhere in between.
Most will remember George for his personality. He was kind, generous, and a true character. Adored by patients, neighbors, and his children’s friends. He was facile with wit, as droll as they come, and could tell a joke or story like no other. Especially if it was long, and you’ve heard it before. He very well may still be telling that last one.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Virginia, his two sons Gregory (Robin Reiser) and James (Amanda Cruz), and his grandchildren Sullivan, Wyatt, and Des.
