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Alfred Kahn Obituary

Alfred E. Kahn, Cornell professor, dean, and trustee, public servant, and one of the nation's leading economists, died of cancer at his home at Kendal of Ithaca on December 27. He was 93. Fred served as chair of the New York State Public Service Commission; as chair of the Civil Aeronautics Board, where he was the driving force behind the U.S. Airline Deregulation Act of 1978; and as chair of the Council on Wage and Price Stability in the Carter Administration. He was the preeminent scholar of regulatory economics, but also enjoyed the great good fortune of being able to apply the theories he developed to broad industries, including, in addition to airlines, trucking, railroads, and telecommunications. Fred had a deep devotion to family and was deeply loved in turn. His parents, Jacob and Bertha Kahn, were Russian-speaking Jews from what is now Poland who immigrated to the United States before his birth. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was eight and his sister, Hannah (Hannah Kahn Barsky), thirteen years his senior, served as a surrogate mother to him. He was predeceased by her, by his brother, Dr. Sidney Kahn, a noted plastic surgeon, and by granddaughter Emily Simmons Kahn-Fogel. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Simmons Kahn; by Sidney's wife, Heni; by his son Joel Kahn and Joel's wife Maila Stivens of Melbourne, Australia, by their children Jessica Kahn and Sophie Barrett-Kahn, both of New York City, son-in-law David Barrett-Kahn, and great-granddaughter Zoe Barrett-Kahn; by his daughter Rachel Kahn-Fogel and son-in-law Daniel Kahn-Fogel of Colchester, Vermont, by their children Nicholas Kahn-Fogel of Lusaka, Zambia, and Rosemary Kahn-Fogel Luttrell and Corey Luttrell of Athens, Georgia, and great-granddaughter Mary Alden Luttrell; by daughter Hannah Kahn and son-in-law Arthur Best of Denver, Colorado, and their children Rachel Best of Berkeley, California, and Eli Best of New Haven, Connecticut; by his nephew Peter S. Boone of Arlington, Virginia, for whom he and Mary were legal guardians, Amanda Cannell Boone, and Peter's daughters Emily Boone and Hannah Boone; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Fred had a joyful love of musicals, of the great American songbook, and of Gilbert and Sullivan. As a performer he delighted the community with his comic timing, agile dancing, and beautiful voice in lead roles in many productions of the Cornell Savoyards—he performed all of the famous patter songs as well as the role of the tragic jester Jack Point in The Yeoman of the Guard—and in Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music at Cornell. A seminar room in the Department of Music at Cornell is named in his honor. Funeral arrangements will be made by Bangs Funeral Home with a private burial. A memorial celebration of his life will be held in the late spring or early summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hospicare of Tompkins County.

Published by Ithaca Journal on Dec. 29, 2010.
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Memories and Condolences
for Alfred Kahn

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Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

February 28, 2017

Fred Kahn was my Phd thesis advisor and shaper of many of my views on economics. I took my degree in 1965, have worked in Washington and Ottawa, Canada and am now retired. And I still quote him and his ideas both in conversation and on the net.

Arthur Cordell Ph.D. economics 1965

January 27, 2013

Dear Mary, Rachel and Hannah -

What a warm and remarkable person your dad was! My dad's at Kendal and I ran into Fred once; I'm shy so I said nothing but he initiated the conversation, recalled perfectly who I was, and engaged me so kindly with questions about my family.

I was there when Chippie Fogel came bringing pictures of their mutual great-granddaughter and I remember how wry and funny and charming he was about her.

I stopped by yesterday on one of my bi-monthly visits to Ithaca to say hello, but discovered I was too late. I'm so sorry to have missed the opportunity to visit with him and experience again his essential kindness. He was special.

Maddy Parrish Patterson

Maddy Patterson

February 22, 2011

A truly wonderful man, Fred was never idle with his time. His devotion to his wife, Mary, was so touching and beautiful to watch. He was always kind and interested in everyone he spoke to. It is certain he will be missed by many.

Robin Gavin
Ithaca, New York

Robin Gavin

January 14, 2011

Kris Park

January 4, 2011

Dear Mary and family,

It was such an honor and a delight to know Fred. He was such a sweet, humble, and funny man. I loved the times I got to talk with him and, more importantly, to listen to him talk.

Our organization, Love Knows No Bounds, is forever grateful for Fred's tremendous generosity when we were just getting started with assisting families recovering from Hurricane Katrina. He is someone whose love and care for others truly knew no bounds, and we will miss him dearly.

Thank you, Fred, for bringing light and joy to our lives and the lives of the many you touched in New Orleans!

Mike Ellis

January 3, 2011

Prof. Kahn was a frequent guest lecturer in my Airline Management Class at the Hotel School at Cornell. (HA 409). He was a gracious man, of encyclopedic knowledge of the metrics of the airline business, and always exhibited enormous interest in and patience with all of the many questions posed to him by my students. In private life he was a committed amateur thespian, and my wife and I had the privilege of seeing him perform at Ithaca High School and Ithaca College. The world is a better place for his having been here, and he will be sorely missed. I offer my deepest condolences to Mrs. Kahn and the family.

Malcolm Noden

January 2, 2011

I am sorry for your loss. Death brings indescribable pain. Please know that God does promise, "He will wipe out every tear from our eyes and death will be no more, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." Imagine living with your loved one again without the fear of either of you dying. That is something to look forward to.

December 31, 2010

Dear Kahn family,
My memories of Dr. Kahn and his family gi back many years when I was their babysitter. Mr. Kahn was always so kind and thoughtful. When I celebrated 25 years as a Sister of Mercy, Mr. & Mrs Kahn came to my ceremony and I was very touched by their presence.
Please know my thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.
Sincerely,
Sister Jane Kenrick, RSM

Jane Kenrick

December 31, 2010

How can one man touch the hearts of so many? Alfred Kahn...gifted in so many ways... a teacher to this day. Memories fill my heart... I wish to express my deep saddness over his passing. My condolences to his family and friends.

December 30, 2010

Fred Kahn inspired many people in their careers and their personal lives across the years. I was one. As a very young director of insurance in Illinois I was sent by other state insurance commissioners to meet Fred in his role as "inflation czar." After one brief meeting I came away with a life-long lesson in how to take a problem seriously while not taking myself too seriously and also what it meant to take on an impossible or even ridiculous mission with elan and commitment. Later, when I chaired the Illinois utility comisison I came to know Fred much better. I still see as my proudest profesisonal achievement applying Fred's ideas about airline competition in the fields of telecom, gas and eventually electricity. We stayed in touch a bit in the decades that followed and crossed paths in our work. He always offered gentle guidance along with a good chuckle. Fred Kahn was a great and wonderful man. I send my sympathy and my best regards to Fred's family and friends.
Phil O'Connor

Philip O'Connor

December 30, 2010

To Dr. Kahn's family
He was a wonderful man and did so much good for us all. My condolences to you.
I met him on a flight from Ithaca to Philadelphia. It took me some time to introduce myself but I finally did and told him I had admired his politics for decades. We talked for most of the flight and at one point he said he had been blessed with wonderful jobs throughout life. He was headed to his daughter's and family in Vt. and he had a twinkle in his when he spoke of her.
Warm regards,
Kathy Barbieri, Richford, NY

December 30, 2010

Fred Khan was a dear friend of our family for years and years.
My sympathies to all the Khan children who I grew up with.

Jonathan Wilson
Son of Robert & Jane Wilson
Nashville, IN & Marathon, FL

Jonathan Wilson

December 30, 2010

Dr. Kahn was behind me in line at the Ithaca Real Food Co-op many years ago. I discovered I had no checks, and he paid for my groceries, trusting I would send him a check, which, of course, I did. I have never missed a chance to "pay it forward" in honor of a kind, generous, trusting person, and I will keep him in my thoughts forever. Mary Tvaroha Blavos

Mary Blavos

December 30, 2010

It was a pleasure to know him as just a "regular" guy and to have been able to be one of his many caregivers these past few years. He will be missed.

December 30, 2010

Dear Mary- Your husband was a fine teacher and a generous mentor. I took his course on Antitrust Economics at Cornell. Thereafter, he was a mentor, supporting my applcation to the Cornell MBA program and provided guidance later during my P & G career, when he was in DC with the Carter administration. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
John Siegfried, Cornell, Class of 1960

December 29, 2010

Dear Mary and family,

I had the pleasure of working for Fred as a junior economist at the Civil Aeronautics Board. I greatly admired his intellect, his humor, and his concern for the people he worked with. Even when disagreeing with a staff recommendation, he did so with a smile.

To this day, when getting into a debate about airline economics or regulatory policy, I will ask myself what would Fred Kahn say.

I am already missing him

Barry Molar

December 29, 2010

I spent countless hours at the Kahn home during the 60's, when Joel and I were in high school. I treasure my memories of the Kahn family. Fred never stopped moving or singing!
Emily Keast Donahue, Paris, France

Emily Keast

December 29, 2010

A great teacher will never be forgotten...SAN Cornell '59

December 29, 2010

To the family of Dr. Kahn,
A few years ago, I met Alfred and had the opportunity to spend time with him and Mary. I so enjoyed speaking with him, listening, and learning from his many stories. He loved his family dearly, especially his Mary. He showed such compassion to her.
Alfred was a remarkable man...

Jennifer Weil

December 28, 2010

To the family of Mr. Kahn you may not know how far his generosity and love extended but let us tell you. As a supporter of Love Knows No Bounds in Ithaca he contributed to assist families in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina through St. John #5 Faith Church. Pastor Bruce and I(Deborah) had opportunity to visit with Mr. Kahn while on a thank you tour to Ithaca (2009). That visit was the highlight of our visit. Thank you for sharing him with us. Pastor Bruce and Deborah Davenport ([email protected]) New Orleans, LA

Deborah Davenport

December 28, 2010

May god bless him and his family.

He was great economist

Malay Trivedi

December 28, 2010

To the family of Dr. Kahn, I worked for Fred when he was Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board. By observing him, I learned so much on how to manage and treat people. He was so loved by the staff; we'd never worked so hard (for him) to essentially eliminate our jobs. I'll always fondly recall his comment on a "bunch of inflations" when he saw bananas on the reception table (in a reference to the unallowed word). His sense of humor was contagious. He was the best boss I ever had. May you have peace.

Genevieve Laios Wilson

December 28, 2010

Dear Mary and Family,
We deeply mourn Fred's passing, of which we were informed this morning. Fred was truly a man among men, who accomplished so much yet always made time to brighten the day of an old friend. We treasure the memory of our reunion with him after 40 years when we brought our daughter to attend Cornell. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
- The Zimmerman Family: Phyllis (IC '72), Bob (CU '69) and Katie (CU '12)

Phyllis Muhr Zimmerman

December 28, 2010

To the the family of Alfred Kahn - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that Alfred will be missed by many.

R Golay

December 28, 2010

To Mary and Family:

We are saddened to read of Alfred's passing. It was always a pleasure seeing him in the office. We will miss his kind and gentile nature. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Everyone at Westtown Optical

December 28, 2010

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