Peter B. Kahn

Peter B. Kahn (March 18, 1935 – April 27, 2016) passed away suddenly on April 27 in Shoreham, NY. Born in NY, Peter Kahn graduated from Brooklyn Tech in 1952, received his BS from Union College, NY in 1956, and PhD from Northwestern in 1960. He was a much loved and admired professor of physics at Stony Brook University from 1961 to 2003. He served as Chairman 1974-1986; Dean of Undergraduate Studies, 1974; Director of the Undergraduate Program in Physics, 1970-72 and 1996-2001; Director of the Graduate Program in Physics, 1966-67 and 1972-73; Director of the College Physics Program of the American Institute of Physics, 1970-72. He was one of the founding members of Hillel at Stony Brook, as well as the Women in Science and Engineering program. He was instrumental in the development of many of the programs at Stony Brook that helped to make it the great university that it is today.

As a boy, he became interested in Scouting, advancing to Life Scout. He inspired others to participate including his brother-in-law David Andrew Gibbs, his sons David and Jeffrey, grandson Caleb, nephew Marcus, and many others. Peter lived by many of the good scouting principles: Be Prepared, Help others, etc.

As a teenager Peter worked in his father’s candy store and became proficient at making egg creams, sodas, sundaes, and other fountain drinks. He was a gracious and generous host and a good bartender.

In college, with a demanding, science-oriented major, he found time to become a member of a social fraternity, Kappa Nu, and played on the Union College tennis team.

In retirement in Shoreham, NY, Peter Kahn volunteered at the North Shore Public Library, the Garden Club, and for numerous other causes. Known for walking daily around Shoreham Village, he talked with all his neighbors, sharing his passion for learning, books, and so much more.

He was very well read across a broad range of interests. From an early age, he would go to the library. He began reading authors whose names started with “A” and got up to “Proust” by the time he finished high school. His interests throughout his lifetime remained eclectic: travel, gardening, history, photography, literature, art, music, and theater, all in addition to his professional field.

Peter Kahn was predeceased by his wife Vicki McLane and is survived by his three children, Miriam B. Kahn (Columbus, OH), David S. Kahn (Stony Brook, NY), and Jeffrey H. Kahn (Milton, GA), his brother Michael A. Kahn (Key Biscayne, FL) and ex-wife Lois G. Kahn (Boca Raton, FL), and numerous relatives. His family and friends describe Peter as a life-long friend and mentor for all the days of his life. He will be missed.

Donations can be made to the Peter B. Kahn Physics Department Endowment (account #361440) at Stony Brook University, E3320 Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3391: attention Laura Stevenson https://alumniandfriends.stonybrook.edu/online-giving or plant a tree through the Jewish National Fund http://www.jnf.org/.