Felice Davis "Fritzi" Cohen

COHEN

FELICE "Fritzi" DAVIS COHEN

FELICE "Fritzi" DAVIS COHEN, owner of the historic landmark hotel and restaurant, The Tabard Inn, and lifelong advocate for peace, justice and the environment, passed away at her home in Washington, DC on December 20th, 2022. She was 84.

Fritzi (née Felice Davis) was born in Racine, Wisconsin in 1938. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin where she also earned her law degree. She came to Washington DC in 1962 and worked for Representative Robert Kastenmeier (D—WI) and later with Ralph Nader.

Fiercely and infectiously engaged in political and social causes, some of Fritzi's notable projects include: serving as a DC Delegate for Robert Kennedy's bid for the presidency, acting as lead attorney of the Military Audit Project which led to exposing Pentagon cost overruns like the $500.00 hammer, and helping to pass the D.C. Nuclear Weapons Freeze Zone referendum.

She also launched the Washington DC-Moscow Capital Citizens' Exchange which fostered cultural exchanges between Washington and Moscow, and brought chefs, jazz musicians, ice skaters to DC, and brought the Kirov and Bolshoi ballet companies to the Kennedy Center.

An impassioned patron of the arts, food and new ideas, Fritzi was a consummate networker – bringing together some famous and infamous personalities for lectures, performances and feasts at the beloved Tabard Inn which she and her late husband Edward had rescued from demolition in 1975. The Cohens brought together a uniquely talented staff, who over decades, built a cultural institution in Washington, D.C, enjoyed by local writers, journalists and gourmands, as well as travelers from throughout the globe. Other gastronomic ventures included the biodynamic Tabard Farm, the Moby Dick Oyster Farm in Nahcotta, WA, and the still thriving Route 11 Potato Chips.

Fritzi, much beloved by friends and family, is survived by her three children, Sarah Cohen (partner, Jefferson Burgess) of Woodstock, VA., Jeremiah Cohen (Linda Ryden) of Washington, D.C., and Joshua Cohen (Romina Jaque) of Winchester, VA., and grandchildren Rosemary, Henry, Constanza, Daniel, and Isidora. She is the beloved sister of Judy Holleb, Northbrook, IL. Aunt of Josh Holleb and Jon Holleb and their families, as well as her beloved cousin of Dodie Fait (Dr. David Borenstein) of Potomac, MD and their daughters Sylvia, Bettie and Becky. Her abundant spirit encouraged, activated, and guided so many—may she rest in peace and power.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Tax deductible contributions in Fritzi's honor may be made to Fearless Fund, Fearlessfund.org and mailed to The Tabard Inn, 1739 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.