Profile Text
Cohen in 2008, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Leonard Norman Cohen
Date of Birth: September 21, 1934
Place of Birth: Westmount, Québec, Canada
Date of Death: November 7, 2016
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Leonard Cohen was a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, poet, and writer.
He was born in Westmount, an English-speaking area of Montréal, Québec, into a middle-class Jewish family. He was the son of Masha/Marsha (Klonitsky) and Lt. Nathan Bernard Cohen. His father was born in Montréal, to parents from Poland/Russia. His mother was born in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Leonard was a maternal third cousin of actor, artist, and screenwriter Stephen Lack , through their shared Cohen lines; they were likely also third cousins through their Garmaise ancestors. It appears that Leonard was also a fourth cousin of actor William Shatner , also through their shared Garmaise line.
Leonard’s paternal grandfather was Yehuda Leib “Lyon” Cohen (the son of Lazarus Cohen and Fraidie/Fraida/Frieda Garmaise). Lyon was born in Suwałki, Miasto Suwałki, Podlaskie, Poland, and was founding president of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Lazarus was born in Verballen, the son of Chaim/Haim Chaikel Cohen/HaCohen, whose father was a rabbi; and of Sara Treina. Lazarus’ brother was Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Cohen, Dean of the Canadian Rabbinate. Leonard’s great-grandmother Fraidie was the daughter of Beryl/Dov Garmaise, who was from Vilkevishk, Lithuania; and of Rivke.
Leonard’s paternal grandmother was Rachel Friedman (the daughter of Noah/Nissan Friedman and Sarah Treina Kellert). Sarah was the daughter of Julius Judah Judel Sam Kellert and Lea.
Leonard’s maternal grandfather was Rabbi Solomon Shlomo Zalman Klonitsky-Kline (the son of Yaakov Klonitsky and Hudie Klonizki). Rabbi Solomon was born in Lithuania, and was a Talmudic writer. Yaakov was the son of Zalman Arye Klonizki.
Leonard’s maternal grandmother was named Esther Marie Charnason (the daughter of Alex “Elijah” Charnas/Charnason and Chassa). Esther was born in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sources: Genealogies of Leonard Cohen – http://www.geni.com http://www.findagrave.com https://www.wikitree.com