A Douglas Elliman agent who formerly served as chief operating officer of Credit Suisse died after the small plane her husband was piloting crashed near a home in Woburn, Massachusetts, the brokerage confirmed Monday.
Jodi Cohen, 52, and her 65-year-old husband Michael Graver, the chief of adult cardiac surgery at Northwell Health’s North Shore University Hospital, were flying between small airports in New York and Massachusetts when the plane went down.
Trained as a certified public accountant, Cohen worked as an agent out of the Manhasset, Long Island offices of Douglas Elliman. She had been with the company since Aug. 5, 2013, according to a Douglas Elliman representative.
“We are all so saddened by the sudden loss of Jodi Cohen, a respected colleague, consummate professional and generous friend to many,” said Ann Conroy, president of Douglas Elliman’s Long Island Division, in a prepared statement. “Our hearts are with her family. She will be deeply missed and always remembered.”
Local media reports said Graver was piloting a Columbia Aircraft LC41 single propellor plane. He had left Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY., at 9:30 a.m., and was expected to arrive in Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA. at around 11 a.m.
Cohen and Graver were planning on visiting their son Adam Graver, an orthopedic surgeon from Washington state, who was visiting Massachusetts for a medical conference, according to a report in the New York Post.
The couple were the only occupants of the plane, according to a statement by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
In her statement, Ryan described Graver as a “very experienced pilot.” Federal Aviation Administration records indicate that Graver was last issued a private pilot’s license in 2014.
As of Monday, while the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, officials had not released a cause of the accident.
Of the many customer testimonials found on her Douglas Elliman profile, Cohen was described as “extremely professional and well prepared,” as well as patient and diligent, according to several past clients.
“She listened to our needs and was able to pinpoint the perfect home for us,” wrote one such client, Monalyn Zouzias. “Despite the competitiveness of the real estate market, we became homeowners within a matter of weeks with her help!”
“Jodi Cohen was an amazing person and a phenomenal agent, with a passionate desire to be the best she could be,” added Edward D’Ambrosio, senior executive manager of sales for Douglas Elliman’s North Shore offices. “Over the last few days, agents from Elliman and other firms have reached out to share how generous Jodi was with her knowledge and her friendship. We are feeling this loss throughout our Manhasset office and throughout Douglas Elliman.”
“I am so sad and feel honored to have known her,” D’Ambrosio added.
According to the profile, Cohen served as global chief operating officer for Credit Suisse in New York City before becoming a real estate agent. Using her CPA background, her entry into real estate was as an audit manager and advisory service manager in a real estate division.
She also liked cooking, running, and biking, as well as spending time with her two dogs, according to the profile.
In a Newsday report on Sunday, Cohen’s sister Beth Kotin said that Cohen grew up in North Woodmere, NY., attended Adelphi University and studied accounting at the University of Florida.
“I’m just still shocked that this happened to them,” Kotin told Newsday. “They were both really good people, and very close to us and my kids. So it’s terrible.”
Inman reached out to Cohen’s family but had yet to hear back in time for publication. According to Newsday, a funeral will be held in the next week.
This event follows an August plane crash involving three Pacific Union International agents and their family members.