A Note on Loss and Gratitude

Friends,

My name is Keith Cohen, and I’ve been the proud owner of Orwashers Bakery since 2008, when I acquired it from the founder’s grandson. I wanted to share something a bit personal with all of you, I hope you won’t mind.

In late September, I lost my baby sister, Beth. Some of you may have known her. She was the friendly face behind our farmers market stands at McGolrick Park in Greenpoint and Pleasanton on Long Island. Beth’s passing was sudden and shocking, and I am still recovering from the loss. I suspect it will be a long, difficult process. 

For those of you who’ve experienced something similar, you probably searched for meaning in the aftermath, like I have. We want to dull the pain of grief with understanding. As rational beings, it’s natural that we try to comprehend the incomprehensibility of loss - the unfairness, the finality, the cruelty of it all. So we desperately look for a sign, a lesson, anything to give us a shred of relief and perspective that can help us cope and carry on.

I wish I could tell you I’ve found such meaning. I’m still looking. However, I have found true solace in this business and in all of you, who make this business possible. Some of this relief has surely come from the time and attention I need to focus on our operations, which diverts my mind from the heartbreak, but the real salve is the very spirit of Orwashers. 

At our core, Orwashers is about feeding people. There’s something so human and yet so divine about the simple act of breaking bread with others. We are still, we are together, we are connected, we are nourished. And in this increasingly chaotic and divided world, that experience is a true gift and a great comfort to ourselves and to those we invite to our table. 

Whether it’s our sourdough bagels at your birthday brunch, our crusty baguette at your dinner party, or our warm Parker House rolls for your Thanksgiving spread, knowing that our products reach customers like you, in these moments that matter, means the world to me and to all of us here at Orwashers. Thank you, truly.

In the upcoming holidays, I know many of us will sit down for a meal with loved ones and feel the terrible ache of someone’s absence. I certainly will. Beth was the centerpiece of every family gathering – a great storyteller with a huge heart and a fantastic laugh. Their memory is a blessing, and the best way for us to honor it is to share the love we have for them with others. So let’s set the table, slice the bread, welcome our guests, and embrace the healing joy of feeding each other. 

With love and gratitude,

Keith