Denise Cohen

Honoring the Life of Denise Cohen

Dear family and friends,

Denise Cohen, 97, of New York City, passed away peacefully at home on September 5, 2025.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, to Joseph and Claire Bensimon, Denise was the middle sister between Fanny and Colette. Raised in a traditional Sephardic household, she attended French schools and carried her heritage with pride throughout her life.

In 1950, Denise married Renato Cohen and embarked on a journey that took her to London and Winnipeg before settling in New Jersey. There, she devoted herself to raising her children, Steve and Lynn. She was an avid tennis and bridge player, worked as an interior designer, and was known for hosting elegant dinner parties with unmistakable European style.

When her life shifted in the mid-1970s following her divorce, Denise reinvented herself as an independent Manhattan businesswoman, launching a distinguished career as a Japanese art dealer at the Ronin Gallery in New York City. There, she handled 19th-century woodblock prints and developed a particular expertise in Netsuke. She thrived in the art world, traveling worldwide for both business and pleasure, and relished every opportunity to explore museums, galleries, and the cultures she loved.

Family was essential to her. She lovingly cared for her parents in Brazil, visited her sisters in Canada and France, and treasured the family reunions that brought all the cousins together. She spent many summers on the French Riviera, her favorite place.

She will be remembered as a loving mother to Steve and Lynn, a devoted grandmother to Jenna, and a proud great-grandmother to Maddie and Ryder. She was a loyal sister to Fanny and Colette, a caring aunt to Sylvana, Jacky, Maya, and Danny, a second mother to Gil, and a treasured cousin to many. Denise cherished every member of her family, her friends, and all her acquaintances.

Denise took little for herself yet gave so much to others. While we are heartbroken to say goodbye, we are filled with gratitude for her rich, full life and the unconditional love she shared. She enchanted all who knew her with her passion for Japanese art, the grace of her mind, and her delightful sense of humor.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no funeral or services. She will be cremated, and her ashes will be scattered in the Mediterranean Sea.

We would be honored by any donations made in Denise's name to the Central Park Conservancy of NYC or the charity of your choice.

In love and peace,

Lynn and Steve