Jacob Cohen Pitzer passed away at the age of 40, Thursday, August 5 th , at the Pitzer family

farm. Jake was born at home in Leesburg, Ohio to Keith and Joan (Lundy) Pitzer on June 21,

1981. He was a big-hearted and loving son and spent his early years playing with his brothers,

Seth, Zachary and Jesse Pitzer on a farm in Clinton County, Ohio. He took to playing music, his

lifelong love, at an early age, beginning with fiddle at the age of 5. In 1990 the family moved to

Preston County, West Virginia to their own farm atop Laurel Mountain, where music continued

to play a major role in his family life. Jake was an avid reader at home and bright student yet he

preferred his classes in the greenhouse at Preston High, being an outdoor nature lover. He was

loved by many for his contagious laugh, genuine smile, generous heart, and sometimes ornery

attitude. His only enemy was a spider.

Throughout high school, Jake expanded his musical chops with close friends Ryan Snyder,

Chris Bern, and Greg Short, Jr (Shorty) at the Snyder cabin, the Brand cabin, or his own

mountain top home. Their first gig as a foursome was the Rowlesburg Labor Day Ox Roast in

1997. Through the river community the guys met fellow musician, Rick Chaney, and formed the

newgrass band, From the Hip. Soon after, his father, Keith, picked up a mandolin and joined the

group. They went on to play shows at regional venues including infamous sets at the Brewpub,

Purple Fiddle, Cheat River Festival, and Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival. Once Keith

stepped out of the band, Jake's innate musical ability and songwriting skills lead him to

commandeer that mandolin and he never gave up pursuing the nimblest (Sam) Bush "butterfly".

Jake was a driving force inside a music circle and his ability to add, compliment and blend a

group sound was gifted and impressive. From the Hip released their album Closer to Home in

2004.

After graduating from Preston High School in 1999, Jake trained as a river guide and worked for

Appalachian Wildwaters on the Cheat River and later for Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle.

Many lifelong friends and good memories were made within the river community. But the raft

guide life could not last forever so Jake took a job with K&A Contracting, learning valuable

carpentry skills on the job from his mentor and friend, Jim Metheny, along with co-worker and

long time friend, Reggie Liston. He had a fine attention to detail and wasn't intimidated by

heights, later building his mother's house up on the family farm. Jake worked for K& A

Contracting for several years before starting his own company, Cohen Contracting in 2008. He

was always generous with giving of his time as demonstrated by his help with endless family

and friend projects (tree felling, roof raising, foundation reinforcement, deck building so so

many!), as well as projects for FOC (fest site outdoor classroom, stage, pavilion and many

more) and FODC (outdoor classroom).

Of all of his talents, music was his strongest and his greatest passion. Having grown up in a

house filled with music from both his parents and many talented friends, his father in particular

became his largest musical inspiration, mentor and picking partner. Over the decades he played

in various groups and formations, notably, Medicinal Whiskey, The Clear Mountain Boys with

longtime and close friend, Lindsey (Clear) Jaquay, String Fever, the beloved family trio of Keith,

Joan, and Jake, a reinvigorated From the Hip with his youngest brother, Jesse, and their

mother, and Aurora Celtic with Chris Bern, Alice Fleischman and Mike Broderick. In addition

there were ever so many magical musical moments at the family farm with close friends and

brothers, Zach and Jesse, while oldest brother, Seth, infamously took leads on his "air" guitar.

If Jake had another love, it was Amanda Lachowski. Jake and Amanda met in 2005 at a music

festival in Ohio. The set of their love story was the Cheat River valley with the Pitzer family

providing her first insights into Preston County and the Cheat River. Jake and Amanda were

known for their gatherings at the river house in Preston and then the family farm, including New

Year's Eve parties and the annual Horseshoe Tournament. Some of their most special times

were simply spending time with Keith and Joan at the farm and traveling for String Fever gigs.

Jake will forever be remembered by his many friends and family as a kind and gentle soul with a

love for the open spaces and a gift with music.

Jake is survived by his dedicated mother, Joan Pitzer, and brothers Seth, Zachary (aka Zak),

and Jesse (Moriah) Pitzer; his niece, Lilly Pitzer, and nephews, Isaac Pitzer (Seth), and Gavin

Pitzer (Zachary); and former spouse and loving friend, Amanda Pitzer. In addition, he is

survived by many loving cousins, aunts and uncles. Jake was preceded in death by his father,

Keith A. Pitzer, and grandparents, Homer and Suzanne Lundy, Ruth and Albert Pitzer.

Family and friends will celebrate Jake's life at the Pitzer family farm on September 18, 2021 at

1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Friends of the Cheat. www.cheat.org

Condolences may be made at www.arthurwrightfuneralhome.com