Ralph Cohen

Obituary of Ralph Cohen

Ralph Luntz Cohen

December 1, 1938 – January 6, 2026

Ralph Luntz Cohen, a Denver native, proud father, and psychiatrist known for his warmth, inquisitive mind, and devotion to the craft of psychotherapy, died on January 6, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. He was 87.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ralph grew up in Denver, attending Smiley Middle School and East High School (class of '59). He went on to the University of Colorado Boulder for his undergraduate education and earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Ralph's professional life was shaped by a deep belief in science, careful listening, and the healing power of human communication. He served in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1972, and was stationed in Japan as Ward Chief and as a psychiatric consultant to Department of Defense schools and bases across Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. That experience sparked a lifelong interest in travel, other cultures, and the wider world. After returning to the United States, Ralph and his then-wife, Susan, moved to Maine, where he worked at Maine Coast Mental Health in Bar Harbor. In 1978 they settled in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he spent the rest of his career building a reputation for thoughtful care - often working with people facing the aftermath of severe trauma.

Over the years, he served as the Founding Medical Director of Community Health Services in Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Founding Medical Director of the Crisis Evaluation Clinic of Western Massachusetts. He consulted with hospitals and clinics throughout the region and served as psychiatrist and consultant to the Academy at Swift River. Throughout his career, he maintained a private practice in Amherst. He was a devoted friend and colleague to many in the mental health community in western Massachusetts.

Outside of medicine, Ralph was endlessly curious. He loved literature and was an avid listener to audiobooks. He was fascinated by science - from the vastness of space to the intricacies of the human body - and he found real joy in discovery. Music mattered deeply to him as well, particularly classical and jazz. He was a runner throughout the Pioneer Valley, particularly at Amethyst Brook in Amherst, and Whiting Street Reservoir when he lived in Holyoke in his later years. For many years, he practiced Sun Do, a Korean Taoist practice of breathing, physical postures, and meditation.

As a father to David and Rachael, Ralph was always able to listen, hear stories, help sort out relationships, and often, help their friends when they needed to talk to someone. He was a gentle, calm father who loved having adult children and took enormous pride in their accomplishments.

Ralph was preceded in death by his father, R. Robert Cohen; his mother, Ruth Luntz Cohen; and his brother, William Cohen. He is survived by his sister, Charlotte Cohen, his daughter, Rachael Sasha Chase Cohen; his son, David Chase Cohen; and his grandson, Salomon Cohen.