David A. Cohen, 59, who was the founder and publisher of the LGBT publications the PINK Pages, Pride Magazine, and subsequently PINK magazine, has died.
Cohen immigrated to the U.S. from Israel in the 1980s. He lived in New York City before settling in Chicago. Cohen’s PINK Pages was the first “yellow pages” to serve the LGBT community in New York City in 1990. He expanded the PINK Pages nationwide to other U.S. cities including Chicago, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In 1995, Cohen launched Pride Magazine, an entertainment/lifestyle-oriented LGBT magazine. In 2011, the PINK Pages and Pride Magazine merged into one publication called PINK Magazine. This award-winning magazine was offered in print and on the web (www.pinkmag.com) and featured LGBT community events, entertainment, fashion, as well as a directory of gay and gay-friendly businesses.
In addition to being a publisher and print/web designer, Cohen was a fine artist. Working in acrylics, watercolor and pen and ink, Cohen’s fluid and abstract style was reminiscent of Picasso and Matisse, according to his friends. He often shared his art with those friends, and recently had developed a line of greeting cards featuring his colorful work.
Cohen sponsored many philanthropic efforts and fundraisers for the LGBT community. Benefactors included Howard Brown Health Center, Center on Halsted, the Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP), GLBT Historical Society (San Francisco), Dining Out for Life, Reeling Film Festival, Chicago House, and more.
He died peacefully in Chicago on Jan. 29, 2014, surrounded by family. He survived by his brother Doron Cohen (Manny), sister Karen (Jamie) Wiener and two nephews (Ely and Ziv) all of New York, NY, and sister Edna (Uzi) Uzieal of Israel. Per his wishes, Cohen was buried near his family at Beth Moses Cemetery, Long Island, NY. A private celebration will be held in Cohen’s honor in Chicago.