Marvin Cohen, 65, a professional accordion player who also clerked in stores, died Dec. 31 of a heart attack at Washington Hospital Center.
He lived in Silver Spring.
Mr. Cohen, who was born in Washington, began playing the accordion when he was 11. He took lessons at the old Guild Institute of Music
in the District and, by the age of 18, was teaching at the school.
He performed in a variety of musical settings through the years and as a solo performer at weddings and countless other events. He
entertained at nursing homes and retirement communities throughout the region. He often performed several times a day, averaging 425
appearances annually in recent years. He was known for talking and joking with listeners and strolling while playing the 40-pound
accordion.
Mr. Cohen was born in the District and graduated from Coolidge High School in 1957. He often performed in school talent shows and other
productions. He attended the University of Maryland.
To support his music, Mr. Cohen worked at a variety of grocery and liquor stores over the years. He was a clerk for a Montgomery County
liquor store in Olney from 1973 to 1980. He worked behind the counter at Parkway Deli in Silver Spring from 1980 to 1986. He was an
employee of Snyder's, a Silver Spring grocery store, before taking a position as a courtesy clerk at a Giant supermarket in Silver Spring from
1992 to 2002.
He had lived in Silver Spring for the past 40 years.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Arlene Cohen of Silver Spring; a son, Michael Cohen of Silver Spring; and a brother, Leslie Cohen of
Severna Park.
2006