Stephen Georg Simon Kuhn passed away on April 19, 2020 at the Mary Ann Morse Rehabilitation Center in Natick, MA, from complications of COVID-19. He was 88 years of age and is survived by his daughters Sandra and Lara; his brother Werner; his nieces Pam Kuhn, Lisa Trevino, and Linda Kuhn; his great nieces Katrina Rudolph and Katherine Rudolph; his beloved poodle Django (who has been adopted by Stephen's ex-wife Ilse Sangree); and many, many good friends.
The younger of two children, Stephen was born on August 19, 1931 in Solingen, Germany. After the family fled Nazi Germany in 1939, they settled in Chicago, IL, which Stephen used as his primary home base until his retirement in 2002.
Stephen was an avid skier and traveled the world looking for new mountains to conquer and cultures to experience. One of the highlights of his life was taking a year to travel – and ski – around Central and South America, where he skied with Stein Erikson and taught English along the way to pay his expenses. Later, he would put his children on skis the moment they could stand.
In 1962, while traveling around Europe, he met and fell in love with Ilse Michaelis and settled in Beuel, Germany, where they were married.
When Stephen returned to Chicago with his new family, he worked in marketing before buying and running an import company – the perfect job for a man who loved travel and the freedom of being his own boss. Over the years, Stephen imported ornate candles from Germany; Kilims and rugs from Poland and Afghanistan; and Crystal stemware, figurines, and vases, primarily from Germany, Sweden, and Italy.
In 1996 Stephen moved to Fox River Grove, IL, where he was joined by his mother, Maria. There he bought a party boat and loved to take his friends and family out on the Fox River, though he continued to enjoy Chicago's many museum, theater, and jazz and classical music offerings.
After retiring in 2002, Stephen moved to Glenwood Springs, CO, where he was embraced by the 100 Club and others, and spent much of his time skiing – he often said that CO had the best skiing the world over – hiking, and simply having the time of his life – he loved a good party – with his many good friends. A great lover of classical music he enjoyed taking the bus to Aspen regularly to attend concerts and Master Classes; always curious, he took classes at the Colorado Mountain College; and with the value he placed on volunteerism, he gave back to the community in numerous ways – from practicing mediation, to tutoring Spanish speakers in English, to working at the local festivals (such as the Aspen Wine and Cheese festival), to ushering at the theater and ballet.
In 2013 Stephen moved to Natick/Framingham, MA to be near his daughters, Sandra and Lara. At the time of his death, he lived at Heritage of Framingham, an independent and assisted living facility. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, he volunteered to participate in a number of research projects being conducted to combat the disease. While he was thankful to be near his children, he dearly missed his life in CO and his ashes will be scattered there, where he was happiest – in the mountains.
Donations may be made in memory of Stephen to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America or any local animal humane society.
