Good Evening,
          To all of Dr. Kahana's family, I offer you my sympathy on his passing. Dr. Kahana was my undergraduate gerontology professor at CSU. He instilled in me a passion for exploring psychology, and advised me to move forward in my studies to a Master's Degree in Counseling. I credit Dr. Kahana for encouraging me to gain further knowledge in the field, leading me to practice as a mental health counselor. I'll always remember his guidance, wisdom, and good advice, and mention him with fondness as the catalyst for me to pursue a career in gerontology. I'm currently a Registered Nurse on a Gero-Psychiatric unit, and my practice is guided by the lessons Dr. Kahana taught me about caring for this population. I Thank You from the bottom of my heart Dr. Kahana, for the honor to have had you as a mentor, and for making an indelible impression on my future. May all members of the Kahana family be comforted by warm memories and times shared with such a beloved man who had an incredible impact on so many.

My heart goes out to his family. Great, brilliant professor and such a beautiful person. 

I was fortunate to be a student in Dr. Boaz Kahana’s Abnormal Psychology class when I returned to Cleveland State University in Jan 2018. I was very intrigued by how sharp he was. He had a great knowledge of psychology and teaching it. He didn’t have to look at anything he memorized every single thing. He was a book.  I enjoy attending all of his lectures and was anxious to to learn. He will be missed. May God bless his family during this time. 

I attended CSU from 1986-1991, and remember Dr. Kahana as one of the most kind, encouraging professors, an inspiring teacher. He cared for his students, his colleagues, and the people he studied, and always greeted us with a welcoming smile. A beautiful neshama and a brilliant man. So sad to hear of his passing. May Hashem grant you all comfort; may you know no further sorrow


Dr. Boaz Kahana was a wonderful mentor, professor and humanitarian. He taught generations of students and instilled a sense of passion for the field of psychology.  I knew Dr. Kahana to be extremely kind, gracious, and encouraging, wanting to see all around him succeed. I am very saddened and send my deepest condolences to  Dr. Eva Kahana, sons, grandchildren, and all who loved him. 
Sincerely,
Adriana Faur and family

I am so sorry. Boaz was a wonderful man, so kind, gentle, and smart without having to say a thing. It seemed like just yesterday that Boaz and Eva would stop by my office at Cleveland State, as he finished his class. He would walk by with a little bounce, thinking in a measured way, and then would kibitz, always positive, always kind, thinking, and moving to something new. We overlapped on a committee and he chaired it with such aplomb and humility. Such an accomplished person, so much did he do for Cleveland State, his students, and such a model; he supported me in one of my career goals, and he was reinforcing, kind, solicitous -- and I am the better for knowing him.
Rick Perloff

Dear Mrs Kahana, Jeff and Michael,
I have only the most fond memories of you and of your dear father, a’h, and was deeply saddened to learn of his passing. I remember him as a brilliant, happy, gentle mentsch of a man, qualities exhibited by all of you.  May his neshama have an Aliya and may your family be blessed with simcha, gezunt and nachas. 
I think of you often and would love to be in touch at some point.  
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

David Zuroff. 

Dear Eva, Jeffrey, and Michael,

I am so sorry for your loss. 

Boaz was a wonderful man and I feel privileged to have known him. My favorite memory of him was when Eva and he insisted on walking me to where I was staying on Shabbat after a lovely dinner at Michael and Jeffrey's house in Cambridge. He was so lively, caring and interesting to  talk to! Even though it was a long walk in both directions, you both insisted on making sure I arrived safely at my cousin's house.  That act of Hesed has stayed with me and I I will miss him. His model and yours as a couple, has inspired me to be a better rabbi,  wife and mother.

Sending you much love and comfort in this difficult time.

Hamakom Y'nachem Etchem B'toch Sha'ar Avlei Tzion V'Yerushalayim,
Miriam Midlarsky Lichtenfeld

I had the privilege of spending time with Boaz and Eva during our frequent trips to Cleveland for  Liz's treatments at the Cleveland Clinic. Boaz and Eva would invite us over for a home cooked dinner, which was always delicious and made more enjoyable by my conversations with Boaz. We were both educated in yeshivas, he more than I, but as a result of my fluency with Hebrew after spending a year in Israel, we could bandy around words and phrases in Hebrew, occasionally in Yiddish, knowing that the other would immediately understand. No subject was beyond his capacity and wlllingness to discuss. What I loved about him was his skepticism about absolutes, yet taking pleasure in Jewish communal life in the shul and in Jewish learning. His generosity of spirit was boundless, always taking pleasure in the achievements of others. He defined what it meant to be a mensch. He will be sorely missed.

Dear Eva, Jeffrey, and Michael:
Boaz was a special person, a real mensch. He was always optimistic and upbeat and always ready to help and help others. As a professor, he was excited about the material he taught, even after teaching the same material for 6 decades. The secret was his love for his students.  About 6 years ago Boaz and I became next-door office neighbors. Aside from working together as a member of the clinical program, we often met at his office. There, we talked in Hebrew, and read articles. Boaz would often share with me stories about his children and grandchildren, talk about research ideas, and occasionally even review a Talmudic text. Whenever the conversation would go for a lengthy time, Boaz would open his little fridge, pull out two of Eva's famous sandwiches, I would bring coffee, and together we would have lunch. 

Boaz was a dear and close friend and a colleague. I will miss him dearly.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss. 

שלא תדעו עוד צער

Amir and Jennifer

Dear Eva, Jeffrey and Michael:
Please accept my sincere condolences תנחומים at the passing of Boaz.  I know Boaz since the late 80’s when he was chair of the Psychology Department and I have joined CSU.  I had chatted with him numerous times in the SI building between Psychology and Physics.  He was always proudly mentioning his young colleagues who were successful in getting grants or doing research.  Boaz was very supportive of his colleagues from Psychology and Physics (me) in their CSU careers.  He was very proud of the successes of his sons. Boaz was a great scholar with numerous high impact articles and grants. He was selfless, intelligent, hard-working, courageous.  Boaz was a mensch. I will miss him. 
May הַמָּקוֹם comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Miron and Sanda Kaufman


Dear Eva, Jeffrey and Marlene, Michael and Jessica, and children.

       Boaz was a very dear friend for 55 years when we first met as graduate students.  When we moved to Detroit, Boaz and Eva were among the first people whom we contacted.  They had their two sons and we had our two daughters, who joined Michael and Jeffrey at a Hebrew Day School.  When we found that we would be having a son,  Boaz and Eva were the first  whom we told--and Boaz was the Sendak at our son's Bris.  When we all ultimately left Detroit, we remained very close friends and colleagues.

       Boaz and I had worked and done fieldwork at the same Brooklyn clinics--the Kings County Hospital psychiatric wards and the BARO clinic--the Brooklyn Association for the Rehabilitation of Offenders, and went on to obtain Ph.D's In clinical psychology with a psychodynamic emphasis and geropsychology.  Over the years we had many conversations on clinical cases, research, and teaching strategies, and taught in one another's classes.  We shared deep interests and backgrounds in Judaism and in the Holocaust.

          Boaz Kahana was among our very dearest friends, and a true mensch.

   May his memory be a blessing, z"l.

   Liz and Manus Midlarsky

I am very sad at this news. I always greatly valued our discussions, such a delightful person.

Dear Eva, Jeffrey, Michael and families,
I have know Boaz for almost 50 years as a psychologist, professor and friend. One of the great blessings was your move to Cleveland when we could get together personally and professionally. Remember fondly getting together for holidays, being together for Heller Award dinners and many other meetings. He was a great colleague to so many. Ronni and I want you to know how sorry we are to learn about his death. May his memory be a blessing to you and yours. Fondest regards, Harvey
Harvey L. Sterns, Ph.D.

Eva,

My deepest condolences to you and your family. Boaz was a wonderful scholar and colleague. His dedication to his students and his contribution to the field leave an indelible legacy.  

Colleen McMahon


Dear Eva, Jeffrey, and Michael:
                                                                      Please accept my condolences for your loss.  I first met Boaz in the summer of 1989 as a new faculty member at Cleveland State University.  Because I shared Boaz' interest in aging research, he "took me under his wing" in the early years of my career at CSU.  He made a difference in my life (and so many others' lives), I will be be eternally grateful for this.

Phil Allen


Dear Eva, Jeffrey, and Michael:

I'm so sad to learn of Boaz' death. He was such an amazing teacher, scholar, and friend. I smile  remembering his wonderful explanations and keen incite about aging. . . and about living. 

Jonathan and I send you our love at this very sad time.
Rachel

On behalf of the Department of Psychology at Cleveland State University, I would like to express our condolences to Boaz's family and friends. Dr. Kahana was a valuable and productive member of our department and Cleveland State University for decades. He will be truly missed - and fondly remembered - by his colleagues, his many former students, and the greater CSU community. 

Eva, Michael and Jeffery,
Janice and I offer our deepest condolences and have all of you in our prayers.  Boaz was a man with great wisdom and gentleness who was always willing to share his passions and knowledge with grace.  May he rest in peace.

Love, Janice and Tom 

Dear Eva:

My deepest condolences on the passing of Boaz.   He was not only a
great scholar and former colleague, but a mensch in the truest sense.   May his memory be a blessing and may he be remembered amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Ben Wallace



OBITUARY

Boaz Kahana

May 18, 1934 – November 6, 2020

Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel

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