Karyl Cohn (nee Stein), age 95, passed away peacefully on July 21,2024, in Tucson. Born in 1929, in Dayton, Ohio, Karyl’s life was a testament to her passion for music and her enduring love for her family.
Karyl’s musical journey began at the tender age of 8 with piano lessons, which blossomed into a lifelong career. She was a prodigious talent, performing as a soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at just 15. Karyl’s education was equally impressive, attending the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Juilliard in New York City, and the Mannes School of Music. She further honed her skills under Madame Olga Conus at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Throughout her life, Karyl graced many stages in Ohio, Colorado, California, and Arizona with performances and contributed to the musical community by teaching piano and judging young adult piano competitions. She was also a proud lifetime member of the Delta Omicron Music Fraternity.
Karyl’s love extended beyond music to her family and community. She married Edward (Eddie) Cohn, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage and three children. The couple enjoyed summers water skiing in Indiana and later, the serene beauty of the Colorado Rockies after moving to Boulder in 1975. In 2000, they settled in Tucson, continuing their active involvement in the local music scene. Karyl also taught Hebrew school in her younger years and was a member of Temple Israel of Dayton.
Her personal life was filled with joy from her extensive family and friends. Karyl is survived by her son Roger Cohn (Aileen), and her daughters Kathy and Betsy Cohn White (John). She was a cherished grandmother to Stephanie, Eric Guido (Sylvia), Jacob (Jake)Cohn, Kirsten Hutton (Josh), Maggie DeLaCruz (Steve), Cassandra D’Acunto (Dominic), Leslie Mochtarian (Aric), Samantha and John (Bok) Cohn. She is remembered lovingly by her great grandchildren Nayah, Jaden, Judah and Liam Hutton, Vaughn and Jones Mochtarian, and Isabella and Camila Guido; and her brother Bob Stein (Helen) and many nieces, nephews, sister-in-law and friends that loved her dearly. Karyl was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and Jacob Stein, brother Fred Stein (Sharon) and of course, as mentioned earlier, her wonderful husband Eddie.
Karyl’s life was a beautiful blend of music, family and community. While no memorial service is currently planned, a celebration of her life may be held in the future. While it is not expected, donations in memory of Karyl can be made to SaveTheMusic.org, MTNAfoundation.org, or Lupus.org. Her legacy of music and love will resonate for generations.
