Louis B. Kahn

                                                                    DR. LOUIS B. KAHN  

Louis B. Kahn was born in 1918 in Chicago, Illinois to Hungarian and Latvian parents. In 1959, he was one of 10 leading pioneers in the application of statistics using electronic computers, and he presented the Queen of England with a statistical paper that he read to the Royal Statistical Society. He had been in World War II in infantry in Germany as Lieutenant and was honored the Purple Heart, 2 Bronze Medals and 3 Battle Stars. Prof. Kahn published a book entitled A Study of Productivity and Its Measurement in 1951. Prof. Kahn co-authored a book entitled Logistics Papers with J.E. Hamilton in 1956. He also authored a paper entitled A Statistical Model for Evaluating the Reliability of Safety Systems for Plants Manufacturing Hazardous Products in 1959. In 1962, he had four books in progress in Economics and Statistics (all copyrights approved) with the leading publication companies in the country, was already eminent in his fields of Computers and Statistics/Economics at Shell Development in Emeryville, CA, and just had transferred to Monterey U.S. Navy Post Graduate School as a Professor, ready to relocate his family wife Vera Ann Kahn and children Ralph age 13, Ann age 11 and baby Ruth age 2. It was then in Jan. 1962 while he was playing poker, winning, at his home in Berkeley, California, that he suffered a catastrophic cerebral hemorrhage which impeded his speech, affected his balance of his limbs, and was predicted to live only 10 days. He lived 50 years longer for the love of his family; a devoted, sweet and strong man who could hardly express his love for life and to his loved ones. "Rocks of Gibraltars," his wife and he, began the first consulting business, Technical Economics, Inc. for computers in 1962 in the country. Vera became his "arms and legs", and Louis the President and "creative mind". Louis B. Kahn shared listening to a CD, made for him by his daughter, Ann shortly before he passed away on July 5, 2012 at the enduring age of 94. He left us at Chaparral Skilled Nursing in Berkeley where he received the faithful support of their staff led by KJ Page, Director. He leaves his family, Vera Ann Kahn, wife, Ann Jean Millikan, daughter, Ruth Ellen Kahn Siderman, daughter, George C. Millikan, son-in-law, Richard Siderman, son-in-law, two grandsons Jacob and Joshua Siderman, and a young kitten he so adored, VENUS. His son Ralph Michael Kahn predeceased him.

Dr. Louis B. Kahn, Professor of Statistics and Economics, was a creative genius who mentored remarkable perseverance, bravery and family love.

-Ann Jean Millikan 2012