On Saturday, September 15, The Beach House will host the 4th annual CohenFest in memory of the late David Cohen, a testament to the Falmouth musician’s positive impact on those around him and a fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund and the American Liver Foundation.
Cohen was diagnosed with childhood leukemia at 6 years old and battled with the illness for the majority of his life. Complications from his leukemia treatment put Cohen in dire need of a liver transplant as an adult. He was about to receive a transplant before he was diagnosed with lymphoma, a development that disqualified him from the transplant waiting list.
“Knowing him as a kid in high school and knowing about his story, it was crushing to hear he was diagnosed with cancer again,” said Brian Kerins, who will perform at this year’s Cohen Fest with his Beatles tribute band, Walrus Gumboot. “He was a beautiful friend and to look back on him in retrospect and think about who he was and how he carried himself with what he was dealing with is amazing.”
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Incredibly, Cohen beat the lymphoma after going through intensive chemotherapy, but the chemotherapy accelerated the degradation of his liver. He ultimately ran out of time, tragically passing away in 2009 at the age of 37.
“He was a very brave guy,” said Marshall Cohen, David’s father, who walks for the American Liver Foundation every year and regularly donates to the Jimmy Fund.
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“He was sick most of his life [but] never complained and soldiered on with the various treatments that he had to undergo. He dealt with his medical problems with grace.”
A FITTING TRIBUTE
A fixture of the local music scene, Cohen played guitar for various bands on the Cape and made numerous friends along the way, who at one time or another have either performed or helped organize Cohen Fest.
Andrew Colella, who played with Cohen in their band Stranger when they attended Falmouth High School, spearheads the event with the help of Taryn Noonan, Ernie Dewing, and countless volunteers.
A suggested donation of $10 benefits the Jimmy Fund and the American Liver Foundation
7:30 PM - Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones tribute)
9 PM - In the Flesh (Pink Floyd tribute)
10:30 PM - Groovy Afternoon (The Who tribute)
12 AM - Walrus Gumboot (The Beatles tribute)
