On April 8, Ida Cohen, co-founder of Yorkville, N.Y.–based Meyda Tiffany, passed away at the age of 99. She was born in Utica, N.Y., in 1920, the daughter of the late Wolfe and Eva Case Alpert. In 1939, Ida married Meyer Cohen. (Meyer died in 2000.)
In 1974, Ida was asked by Meyer to create a stained-glass window in their kitchen to obscure their view of the neighbor’s vintage cars, according to Meyda Custom Lighting’s website. Her hobby eventually led to the founding of Meyda, which derives from combining the names Meyer and Ida. Meyda Custom Lighting is a Meyda Tiffany company, which manufactures custom and decorative lighting and Tiffany lamps for projects worldwide.
Ida Cohen was involved with other business as well. She was the originator and owner of the Nutty Putty Miniature Golf in Old Forge, N.Y., and she and Meyer formerly owned and operated Quickie Steak Packing Co. in Utica, N.Y.
Ida is survived by a sister and three children, including Robert Cohen, Meyda’s current president. She is also survived by six grandchildren—three of whom hold various roles at Meyda—and four great-grandchildren.
