Fritzi Cohen, Fighter Against the Pentagon, RIP
The Matriarch of The Tabard Inn, a unique DC landmark, was a stalwart activist for the Earth and against militarism
Fritzi Cohen, the Matriarch (her term) of The Tabard Inn and president of the Chaucerian Foundation, passed this morning.
She had nerves of steel and a twinkle in her eyes till the day they closed themselves upon this world.
She and her late husband, Edward Cohen (a former financial editor with the Washington Post), saved The Tabard from being torn down for an office tower in the 1970s. It's a series of lovely townhouses strung together with winding hallways and staircases. It feels like an old hotel in Ireland or such and features eclectic, beautiful art.
They would make The Tabard, which just turned 100, an employee-owned company.
Fritzi had been an actress and a lawyer and was involved with a host of projects over the years including filing a lawsuit to audit the military in the 1980s against then CIA director William Casey.
More recently she was at work on a project which posthumously honors a noted Pentagon whistleblower: The Pierre Sprey Roundtable, a project of the Chaucerian Foundation.
As part of that, earlier this year, she hosted an event at The Tabard featuring Andrew Cockburn, author of Spoils of War and Washington editor for Harper's Magazine.
Said Cockburn: “Very sad news. Huge, generous heart. Always brimming with enthusiasm and always interested — gave us lessons on how to grow old. Not only was she all in the fight against militarism, MIC, etc., but also waged a valiant struggle against the fascist ‘ecologists’ of the Oregon invasive species bureaucracy in their efforts to spray her oyster farm with Roundup (on pretext of countering eelgrass). I’ll miss her sorely."
She also made remarks at the beginning of another event at The Tabard Inn where I spoke about biowarfare earlier this year. She expressed her sense of a bond with the Organic Consumers Association, their political director Alexis Baden-Mayer moderated the event, since they’re “not afraid to say what they believe and they blend the serious environmental concerns and peace". Fritzi relished speaking her mind and that included criticizing “progressive” organizations that had lost their way. Her frequent expressions of dismay with environmental groups which were reluctant to criticize the Pentagon was just one manifestation of this. See two video clips of her opening remarks:
Over the last few years, Cohen also hosted a series of events at The Tabard Inn in defense of Julian Assange which were organized by Randy Credico, pictured atop with Fritzi.
James Early, a former Smithsonian Institute official who had known Fritzi for decades said she was “a can-do person and a free thinker. She always had ideas, always had projects in mind: ‘Let’s do something about this.’ She was a true social justice activist.” Among the many efforts, and one she worked on with Early, was making DC and Moscow sister cities in the 1980s.
James Carden of The American Committee for US-Russia Accord wrote today that a recent event marking the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis was “kicked off with remarks by the ever-feisty, ever-fearless Fritzi who decried the collapse of diplomatic relations between the US and Russia and the senselessness of American policy toward Russia in recent decades.”
Economist Marshall Auerback said: “Oh dear! This is such sad news. I had no idea she was ill. So lively and vibrant when I saw her in the late spring. A perennially curious woman, mixed with a wonderful dose of warmth.
”The Tabard is such a wonderful legacy for her to leave behind. It had a timeless quality about it. It is the closest thing I can imagine to an old style French salon from the 18th century.
”Fritzi played such a key role in fostering its charm and intellectual liveliness. She was also an incredible owner. I noted how well she treated her staff and that engendered their loyalty in return. In a city full of puffed up pretentious characters, Fritzi managed to keep it real and fun at The Tabard. It was always my go-to place whenever I came down to DC. I'm not sure it will be the same without her. She was a kind, extraordinary woman. May she rest in peace.”
Fritzi was suffering from cancer but told virtually no one outside her family.
So glad to get to know of this wonderful woman, this activist for justice, equality and peace. Thank you Fritzi for your life of struggles. I also support your critic of climate movements' lack of taking on the Pentagon, the world's single greatest polluter, and military and their endless wars for profit, all of which is makes this MIC the number one cause of destruction of the planet, and, of course, the murdere of millions of humans.
What a sweet farewell to a class act and wonderful collection of memorable causes supported. RIP