“I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
— Lou Gehrig, 1939
Paid Notice: It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Leonard W. Cohen, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey. Leonard passed away on February 21, 2026. Throughout his 89 years, he touched many lives with his wisdom and kindness.
Leonard is survived by his son Richard, his daughter-in-law Stephanie, his beloved grandsons Nathan Van Auken (and wife Carrie) and Joshua Van Auken, as well as his cherished partner of 18 years, Roberta Frommelt. He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 45 years, Myrna, and his daughter, Marla.
Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Leonard graduated from Weequahic High School in 1954. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Upsala College and later received his MBA from New York University.
Leonard devoted more than 50 years to a distinguished career on Wall Street. He began at Oppenheimer in the late 1950s. Following a short stint in the United States National Guard, he joined Edwards & Hanly in the early 1960s. This began a remarkable 49-year tenure during which the firm changed names several times, but Leonard remained a constant. He ultimately retired from Morgan Stanley in 2011. For two decades, he served as a respected branch manager in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Known for his integrity, steady guidance, and personal warmth, Leonard built a community around him, leaving a lasting impression on colleagues and clients alike.
Leonard and Myrna spent 40 wonderful years in West Orange, where they raised their family along with their beloved dog, JP, and cats, Pele and Lacey. Together they created a home filled with warmth, laughter, and tradition. They loved to travel and shared many family vacations with Richard and Marla, including one particularly memorable trip to Walt Disney World in 1973.
Before Myrna’s passing, they built a vacation home in East Hampton, New York — a place that became their sanctuary from the hectic pace of daily life. In the years that followed, Len and Roberta spent nearly half of each year there, enjoying the company of friends and family.
From early childhood, Len had a deep and enduring love for baseball. He proudly attended a 1969 World Series game when the Mets captured their first championship, but his heart always belonged to the New York Yankees — and especially to Lou Gehrig. After Richard introduced him to the internet in the late 1990s, Len enthusiastically began building an extensive Yankees and Lou Gehrig memorabilia collection, one that eventually filled an entire room in his Cedar Grove home and another in East Hampton.
Beyond baseball, Len was a passionate wine aficionado who enjoyed collecting and tasting fine vintages. He believed wholeheartedly in celebrating life’s milestones. On special occasions — birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and weddings — he saved the corks from wine and champagne bottles, small keepsakes that marked the moments that mattered most.
Len believed deeply in supporting causes that made a meaningful difference. Over the years, he gave generously to a variety of charitable organizations, including cancer research in honor of Myrna and Marla. He also remained committed to numerous Jewish causes, among them the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, reflecting both his compassion and his dedication to preserving history and strengthening community.
Len will be remembered as a loving husband/partner and father, a proud grandfather, a loyal friend, and a man of deep kindness and generosity. Above all, he will be remembered for his gift of storytelling. Len loved to talk — about anything and everything — always with detail, warmth, and humor. Those stories will be cherished for generations.
To honor Len, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to any of the following entities:
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Anti-Defamation League Foundation
- National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
