Richard H. Sahm

It is with great sadness that the family of Richard Sahm (“Ricky”) shares his passing on March 6, 2024, his 71st birthday. A proud third-generation Washingtonian who loved to help everyone he encountered, Ricky is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kathleen Kane Sahm; his four children: Robby Sahm, Emily Sahm Levy (Jacob), Danny Sahm (Emily), and Becky Sahm Kane (Steve); and his fan club of adoring grandsons, Joey and Noah Levy, Nate and Colin Sahm, and Owen Kane.

Ricky was born to Anne and Alan Sahm on March 6, 1953, in Washington, DC. He was the second of their three children. His parents were active in the Jewish community of small business owners in the city. His parents were lifelong members of Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC and he was always proud to tell his children that he voluntarily continued Hebrew school after his bar mitzvah. Ricky also had many stories about his adventures at Camp Saginaw every summer starting at the age of 6. He attended at such an early age because his mother had begun to suffer from multiple sclerosis, something that would impact his entire life. Ricky learned how to be an amazing husband from watching Alan take care of his wife with selfless devotion.

Ricky attended Walt Whitman High School, where he was known as a great listener and generous friend. He was the president of his class and president of the Drama Club. Ricky loved musical theater, and in his senior year he was the lead in the school musical, Bye, Bye Birdie, and also had a part in a local dinner theater production of The Fantasticks. He attended Beloit College and the University of Michigan, where he majored in psychology. After college, Ricky worked with his father, managing Rex Wine and Spirits, the family liquor store in Friendship Heights. He loved finding the perfect wine for his customers’ events. After the family sold the store in 1987, Ricky pursued his true passion of psychology. He graduated from Catholic University with a master’s in social work in 1994. He had a special gift for working with struggling adolescents.

Ricky met his wife, Kathleen, through their mutual friend, Jane, during college. They were married in 1979. After that, his circle expanded even wider to include her large family of nine brothers and sisters and ultimately their families as well. Ricky was close with his 24 nieces and nephews, many of whom regularly called on him for advice and support.

Ricky and Kathleen were a perfect match. While Ricky loved helping all people, his life was dedicated to helping raise his beautiful family alongside Kathleen. He coached his kids’ sports teams, shared his love of music with them, drove them to countless activities, and was passionately involved in all ways in their upbringing. The family vacationed for many years at Rehoboth Beach, Deer Valley YMCA Camp, and for several years, his favorite destination, the British Virgin Islands.

Ricky was truly a musical guy, with a voice like James Taylor, and he loved playing music with friends. His childhood band, The Galaxies, played their first party at age nine and joined the bar mitzvah circuit shortly thereafter. In the decades since, Ricky has continued to have a jam session at his grade school bandmate Bobby’s house every Monday night. But he was never prouder than when he was playing guitar at singalongs with his own children or watching them perform. He was thrilled that all his children share his love of music.

Once Ricky’s children left for college, he remained actively involved in their lives, visiting them frequently no matter how far they moved, from New York City and Philadelphia to New Orleans and San Francisco. He was legendary for finding interesting spots in their new neighborhoods that they themselves had not yet discovered – and connecting them with neighbors that they had yet to meet. When his grandchildren arrived, he again became an attentive caretaker, impressing his kids by being incredibly helpful with their newborns and being a best friend to their young children.

Ricky will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend. He will also be missed by his brother, Billy (Rose), his sister, Candace, and their children, as well as the whole Kane clan of in-laws.

A celebration of Ricky’s life will be held on March 11, 2024 at 12pm at the Brookmont Church in Bethesda, MD. Shiva will be held from 6-9pm on Monday and Tuesday, March 11th and 12th.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ricky’s memory to the National MS Society, a cause close to his heart. Donate here: https://donate.nationalmssociety.org/campaign/richardsahm