Yair Kagan

Mr. Kagan is survived by his wife Shoshana (née Kshepitzki), daughters Shirley (husband Matthew) and Michal Lali (husband Jim), sons David (wife Rachel) and Ron Yehiel (wife Katey), and 5 grandchildren.

Born on May 6, 1942 in pre-statehood Israel, Yair was the son of Ben-Zion Kagan and Miriam (née Yakobovitch). He was among the first children born in Kibbutz Neve Yam near Haifa. He spent his life in service to the land he loved.

In 1962, Yair met a Jerusalemite named Shoshana. They married on May 14, 1964, and were true partners for nearly 60 years.

A paratrooper and an officer in the Israeli Defense Force, Yair fought in the Six Day War (1967) and Yom Kippur War (1973).

In 1974, Yair began his nonprofit career as a Jewish Agency emissary to Brighton, England, moving there with Shoshana, Shirley, and Lali. Upon their return to Israel, Yair earned a law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1980, Yair and Shoshana moved their family to New York where Yair served as vice president of American Friends of Hebrew University (AFHU), and later as executive vice president of the American Friends of Rambam Medical Center (AFORAM), raising funds for the premiere hospital in Haifa.

In 2009, Yair suffered a devastating stroke which left him with aphasia. With the tireless aid of Shoshana, Yair continued to lead AFORAM for another 2 years before retiring.

Yair Kagan was a lover of life and song. He and Shoshana went to countless concerts, both rock and classical. Until the end of his life, Yair needed little excuse to burst into song. His voice was always magnificent.

The gifts Yair leaves are myriad: memories of his charm, warmth, wisdom, immense loyalty, and love for his family live on.

Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral service Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington, Rhode Island. Burial to follow in Forest Chapel Cemetery, Nayatt Road, Barrington. Arrangements are in the care of Sugarman-Sinai Memorial Chapel Providence.

Memorial contributions in Yair’s honor may be made to American Friends of the Hebrew University (https://www.afhu.org) and American Friends of Rambam Medical Center (https://aforam.org).