Dr. John Conrad Klahn, M.D., 87, passed away at home in Austin, Texas, on July 23, 2022 after a brief fight with pancreatic cancer.
John was born June 26, 1935, in Newark, New York, to his late parents, Edward Herman Klahn and Minnie Loraine Holt Klahn. He was the eldest of three siblings, his late brother Verlyn Edward Klahn of Churchville, NY, and sister Janet Joyce Klahn Diliberto of Chapel Hill, NC.

John attended Newark public schools and graduated from Newark High School in 1953. After high school, John attended the University of Rochester, studying Pre-Medical Sciences and History.

While at the university, a friend of John's told him about a new student with the same last name on campus. Was she a relative he had never met? John exhaustively searched for evidence they were related but found none. Unbeknownst to John, Mona was herself aware of the dashing young man. The big Sadie Hawkins dance was coming up, and John and Mona each had their plans set. Of course, it was Mona who had the upper hand when she asked John to dance. As Mona tells the story, it was all over as soon as John smelled her White Shoulders perfume. John and Mona married in June 1958, with their unique story appearing in the Rochester Democrat newspaper.

John earned his B.A. in Pre-Medical Sciences and History in June 1957. John then earned his M.D. degree, completing his internship and assistant residency at The Genesee Hospital in Rochester, New York. John and Mona both graduated in 1960. Mona obtained her Chemical Engineering and English degrees and went to work for Eastman Kodak.

In 1962, John took residency at the prestigious Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts. This experience proved rewarding and challenging. At Lahey, John found his lifelong passion for cardiology. After completing his residency at Lahey Clinic, John and Mona returned to Rochester in the summer of 1963, with John becoming Chief Resident in Medicine at The Genesee Hospital. John would continue his passion for cardiology, learning from his mentors Dr. Harry Segal (Physician-in-chief, The Genesee Hospital) and Dr. Wedd, an early pioneer in American cardiology. In 1964 John inherited the responsibilities of cardiology, overseeing the introduction of pacemakers at the hospital.

In 1964, with the help of Dr. David Kluge, John and David hosted the first teaching of CPR to non-physicians at an event held at the War Memorial Auditorium in Rochester, New York. More than 700 nurses, EMS personnel, Firefighters, and Police Officers attended the training. John would continue to advocate for CPR training for the remainder of his career.

John and Mona soon welcomed two children into the world, Rebecca Louise Klahn in 1964 and Conrad Allen Klahn in 1965. The challenges of being new parents were quickly interrupted by the Vietnam Crisis. In January 1967, John entered Military Service as a Captain in the Department of Hospital Clinics at Brooke General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. John served with the Army until December 1968.

John and his family moved back to Rochester. For the next seven years, the family resided in Pittsford, New York, with John practicing private medicine at The Genesee Hospital and The Strong Memorial Hospital. In 1975, after a severe winter, the family decided to return to San Antonio, joining John's mother and aunt, who had moved there a few years prior.

Over the next 30 years of private practice near Northeast Baptist Hospital, John's association with San Antonio Baptist System grew ever-larger. John was appointed Chief of Medicine and Chief of Staff at Northeast Baptist Hospital. Later he became the Chief of Credentials and Chief of Medicine for the San Antonio Baptist Healthcare System of 5 hospitals and a 2-year term as President of Medical Staff and Medical Board of the San Antonio Baptist Healthcare System. John tirelessly served the San Antonio community and was considered by many to be a family member. John continued to make house calls and nursing home visits until he retired in 2005. John was always grateful for the friendship and support of his colleagues, friends, and patients, too many to list.

In retirement, John renewed his passion for United States History, particularly the Civil War period, and researching his family's genealogy. For many years John and Mona traveled extensively, enjoyed barbecue with family, warm winters in San Antonio, gardening, attending San Antonio Spurs games and reunion events with their former classmates.

John will be buried in South Lyons Cemetery next to his parents and siblings.

In lieu of flowers, family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Dr. John and Mona Klahn Endowed Scholarship Fund in the School of Medicine at the University of Rochester. Please visit giving.rochester.edu and select other as designation. You may also contribute to the Nursing Scholarship Fund at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, or the charity of your choice.

Burial arrangements are entrusted to Norman L.
Waterman Funeral Home, Inc.