Peter H. Cahn

Dr. Peter H. Cahn

died on December 18, 2011.

Peter was born in Witten, Germany on March 28, 1932, the son of Dr. Hugo M. Cahn and Greta Wolf Cahn, and the stepson of Ruth Glaser Cahn. His birth mother, Greta Cahn, died on the 3rd day of his life. When he was five his father married Ruth Cahn, and thanks to his father's foresight and pessimism, the three of them were able to leave Germany in February, 1938, before World War II. He lived in Indianapolis from the age of six on.

Peter was a graduate of Shortridge High School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University in Bloomington with honors, which included Phi Beta Kappa and the I.U. Medical School with honors in Alpha Omega Alpha. After completing his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital he served as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force.

He met his future wife, Susan Leitz, at Ohio State University where he completed a residency in Ophthalmology.

He and his young family moved to Indianapolis where he was in private practice from 1963 until 1999.

He taught residents and medical students at Indiana University's Department of Ophthalmology beginning in 1964 and eventually became a Clinical Professor in 1977.

While phasing out of private practice he became Acting Chief of Ophthalmology at the Roudebush Veterans Medical Center and attending Staff Physician at Wishard Hospital Department of Ophthalmology. He retired from the I.U. Faculty in 2004.

He was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and served on the Commission of Professional Affairs of the Indianapolis Medical Society. He was a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Society to Prevent Blindness and a past president of the Indiana Society to Prevent Blindness.

Upon his retirement from medical practice he became an active member of the Retired Executive Service Corps and mentored junior and senior high school students at Broad Ripple High School for 10 years, accompanying students to various businesses and colleges to help them determine their future career paths in life.

He served as a member of the Boards of Directors of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, the Jewish Federation of Indianapolis, the Jewish Community Relations Committee among other community service organizations. He also enjoyed being a supporter of the Indianapolis Arts community.

He enjoyed being a good snow skier and a deficient tennis player.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Susan L. Cahn, and his three sons, Jordan M. Cahn (Elizabeth) of Purchase, NY; Andrew M. Cahn (Ana) of Santa Monica, California; and Drs. Seth (Victoria) Cahn of Indianapolis and four adored grandchildren, Cara and Anna Cahn of Purchase, NY and twins Sophia and Aaron Cahn of Indianapolis.

Funeral services will be held Wed. at 2:30pm Dec. 21, 2011 at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation 6501 N Meridian, with burial to follow in IHC North Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, the Indiana University Department of Ophthalmology, the Simon Cancer Center or to the donors' choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary.