Lynn Yamada Davis, recognized widely as “Cooking with Lynja” on social media, passed away due to esophageal cancer on January 1, 2024. She was 67.
Her son, Tim Davis, confirmed her death with a touching tribute video. Davis’ final moments were at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey, where she was surrounded by family.
A third-generation Japanese American, Davis was born on July 31, 1956, in New York City, New York. She spent her formative years in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
After completing her undergraduate studies in civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977, she furthered her education at Columbia Business School, earning master’s degrees in both business administration and public health.
She had a prominent career at Bell Labs, now known as AT&T Labs, where she devoted 29 years of her life. Davis was lauded for her groundbreaking work as a woman in engineering.
In 2020, Davis made her foray into social media. She began creating cooking videos with her son Tim to help him hone his cinematography skills during the pandemic.
The mother-son duo’s efforts resulted in Davis amassing nearly 19 million followers on TikTok, over two million on Instagram, and 10 million subscribers on YouTube. Her warm and engaging persona earned her the moniker “internet’s grandma” among her fans.
Davis was not only known for her online presence but also for her collaborations with fellow content creators, including “MasterChef” finalist Nick DiGiovanni. In August 2022, they set the Guinness World Record for visiting the most fast-food restaurants in 24 hours. Their other feats include creating the World’s Largest Cake Pop and Chicken Nugget.
Despite her diagnosis of throat cancer in 2019 and later esophageal cancer in 2021, Davis continued to captivate her audience with her culinary talent and wit. Her son Tim intends to continue her legacy by sharing the remaining videos they filmed together.
Davis is survived by her second husband, Keith Davis; their children, Tim and Sean Davis; daughters Hannah Mariko Shofet and Becky Steinberg; her siblings Jay Yamada and Karen Dolce Yamada; and two grandchildren.
