In Memoriam-Mark David Cohen

Mark David Cohen, Ohio Environmental Leader, Founder of Belize Agroforestry Research Center & Co-Founder of Far Valley Farm.

Mark David Cohen, 69, died August 14, 2026 and was born on October 5, 1956 to Louis and Elaine (Albers) Cohen in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mark is survived by his mother, Elaine Albers Cohen of Avon, OH; brother of Dave Cohen (Steph) of Boulder, CO; brother Darren of Amesville, OH; nephew Sam Cohen; niece Leah Cohen; former wife, Angela.

Mark founded the Belize Agroforestry Research Center, a permaculture research and educational facility in southern Belize and spent 25 winters practicing and teaching tropical permaculture.

He also worked as an organic farm inspector for OEFFA and lived at Far Valley Farm, an intentional community he helped co-found in southeastern Ohio.

He was a salt-of-the-earth person, the kind who slept in the back of his pick-up with a shotgun to dissuade racoons from eating his crop of sweet corn.

He had no children, but he did have a former wife and former girlfriend (Kerri), both of whom worked together to give him the best and most loving end-of-life sendoff.

Mark lived life as we should all live it: full of passion, purpose, and on his own terms.  His kind soul, sparkling eyes, and sense of humor will be deeply missed by his loved ones, students, and colleagues.