Richard H. Kuhn M.D.

1935 - 2017

Richard H. Kuhn, M.D., age 81, of Erie, passed away on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.

He was born in Erie, on October 12, 1935, a son of the late Herman and Paula Bauer Kuhn.

Dick (or Dr. Kuhn as he was known by many) graduated from St John's Parochial School (1949), Cathedral Prep (1953), Gannon College (1957) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical School (1961). He was on the Prep swim and water polo teams and was active in the Boys and Girls Club. He was the first Gannon graduate to attend Pitt Medical School.

Dr. Kuhn was a pillar of the Erie medical community. He was instrumental in starting the Saint Vincent Family Medicine Residency Program in 1976, where he served as its Director from its inception until 1984. That program has trained hundreds of family practice physicians serving patients and communities throughout the country. He had faculty appointments as a Clinical Assistant Professor at both Penn State University Hershey Medical Center and Hahnemann Medical College.

Dr. Kuhn was the recipient of numerous medical and civic-minded awards, including Physician of the Year, Saint Vincent Crystal Ball Honoree, Children's Miracle Network "Miracle Maker," and the Sir William Osler Award "Father of Modern Medicine," to name just a few. Dr. Kuhn was also a member of Bishop Murphy's "The Holistic Health of Priests" Advisory Board and Bishop Trautman's diocesan Medical/Moral Advisory Committee. He was also a member of many environmental and conservation groups.

Throughout his dedicated and passionate career, Dr. Kuhn's healing impact with patients, knowledge and wisdom imparted to his medical residents, and steadfast loyalty to his friends and colleagues literally impacted thousands of lives. He was deeply proud of his family and loved them very much.

Dick was a true Renaissance Man: he enjoyed fly-fishing, snowshoeing and canoeing well before those were cool, hip activities, listening to the Steelers, Pirates and Pitt football on his radio, and hiking in the Cook Forest woods and snow covered paths of Presque Isle.

God bless you, Dick, Dr. Kuhn, Uncle Dick, Dad and Papa. You made this world a better place for many. Enjoy that comfortable cabin in the woods with your longtime friends.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen "Kay" Caryl Kuhn, two daughters, Julie Chacona and Jennifer Knox (John), both of Erie, a son, David Kuhn (Martha) of Winter Park, Fla., eight grandchildren, Amy Chacona, Jack, Sam and Maria Knox and Charlie, Christopher, Katie and Clay Kuhn, a sister, Shirley Bauer of Erie and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call on Friday at the Francis V. Kloecker Funeral Home, Inc., 2502 Sassafras St., Erie, PA 16502, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and are invited to a service there on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. followed by the Funeral Mass at St. Luke Church at 11:30 a.m. Send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com

Burial will be private.

Memorials may be given to Emmaus Ministries, 345 E. 9th St., Erie, PA 16503, or to Cathedral Prep, 229 W. 9th St., Erie, PA 16501.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits