Lynda and her husband, Robert Grappel, invariably were encountered as a pair; he the yin to her inseparable yang. Whereas Bob was calm, quiet, thoughtful, reflective, and humorous, Lynda was a bundle of energy and ideas, spirited and animated, enthusiastic, friendly to a fault, and quick to laugh at any joke. She enjoyed friendships, associations, and socializing. She was aware of a small measure of what some might unkindly characterize as “flamboyance” or even “eccentricity” and embraced it. Her wardrobe frequently reflected her sunny, outgoing, colorful, joie de vivre. But it was not a put-on. She truly wanted to be a positive influence in the world.

Lynda was engaging and caring, always looking for ways to be helpful and involved. Lynda followed very much in the mold of her father — a successful Boston area industrialist well-noted for his philanthropy, especially in arts and education. His paternal lessons of generosity undoubtedly guided her in a similar lifelong philanthropic involvement, for which she was well-known.

She attended a prestigious New England university. Early on, Lynda had aspirations in the field of acting and attended the renowned Chicago-based Goodman School of Drama. At some point she had voice training and was an exceptional vocalist. She spent a number of years performing in her synagogue choir. As well, Lynda spoke French and was an accomplished chef, as the fortunate among us came to appreciate. And, somewhere, probably through Bob or possibly in her many associations with the performing arts, she made contact with the autoharp community where she found a receptive home and audience for her music, singing, and playing, not to mention philanthropy.

But…we will mention it.

Under the auspices of the Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering, Lynda, along with husband Bob, annually sponsored the Lynda Cohen & Robert Grappel Recording Endowment, generously underwriting the expense of preparing, recording, and releasing initial albums for promising autoharp artists. Additionally, their philanthropic contributions were directed wherever they saw a need, including to the Gathering, itself, as well as, anonymously, to a number of deserving individuals within the autoharp community.

But her generosity extended beyond just the autoharp community. She was the founder and promoter of the Lynda Cohen Performing Arts Series in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Additionally, through the Appalachian Mountain Club she sponsored the Lynda Cohen Performing Arts Series.

She and Bob were strong supporters and attendees at all the major (and some not so major) autoharp festivals and events. Their influential contributions, dynamic presence, and enthusiastic participation was impossible to overlook—performing, teaching, socializing, and jamming. Together, one year they won the MLAG Leonard Reid Open Stage Award.

They loved to travel and were enthusiastic participants and contributors in nearly all the annual MLAG cruises. Lynda was physically active all her life and an avid hiker. After recovering from Bob’s devastating loss, Lynda continued to commute between their Massachusetts and Arizona homes and even had plans to visit Africa this year until death caught her, literally, in stride to one of her music events, cheesecake and autoharp in hand.

Any who knew Lynda will miss and never forget her. She was truly one of a kind!