Deb Cohn

Deb Cohn, 70, of Taos NM, passed away peacefully in her home on April 19, 2025 with her daughter present. A celebration of her life and art will be hosted at her home on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025. Later, her ashes will be scattered into the ocean she lovingly painted from memory even decades after she moved away from the West Coast. 

Born in East L.A., Deb was an immensely creative artist, musician and painter – working primarily in watercolor and iridescent oil pastel after spending some time studying Graphic Design. Much of her watercolor work and style were perfected while participating in “The Friday Painter’s Club.” 

As a singer and guitar player, she performed with luminaries such as Pine Top Perkins and Tony Rice to name a couple. In the early 80s, she was active in the DC music scene, particularly in the Jazz community where she developed lifelong friendships with folks like Les McCann, Ron Holloway and Rootboy Slim. 

As an accomplished human rights activist, Deb co-founded a chapter of the American Indian Movement in rural America in the early 90s. Her work led to educating public school children on Indigenous American history and many public speaking engagements on the topic. In light of the current cultural emphasis on human rights, particularly for Indigenous peoples, many – including some who were formerly in disagreement with her activism – say she was far ahead of her time. 

Studying under Dr. Madan Katria, she was also a certified Yoga Laughter coach and led a daily international laughter yoga practice by phone for decades. 

Inspired by the illustrious history of Taos, Deb achieved her lifelong dream of moving to New Mexico in the tradition of Geogia O'Keeffe and other pioneering women activists, artists, and writers in the early 2000s. 

In her last four years, she took up photography, documenting and capturing the enigmatic skies of New Mexico, saying there was no point in trying to capture what she saw in a painting because one “wouldn’t believe it was real.”

To her friends, family and various communities, Deb was known for her enthusiastic support of creative endeavors and fierce loyalty to those she loved. 

She was preceded in death by Charles Cohn, her husband of forty years along with her beloved pooches Puff, Phoebe, Portia and Ruby.

She is survived by her daughter Cassie, son-in-law James, Sister Dawndra, brother-in-law Phil and two nieces Christina and Michelle.

The family of Deb Cohn has entrusted the care of their loved one to the caring staff of DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos. www.devargastaos.com