Dr. Guinter Kahn's Obituary
Born in Trier, Germany in 1934, Dr. Guinter Kahn and his family escaped the Nazi political tide and emigrated to the United States in 1938, settling in Omaha, Nebraska. Guinter did all of his schooling within a five mile radius of home, graduating high school and college in three years each, despite coming from a family where no one in the previous generation had more than an 8th grade education. He graduated from Omaha University in 1954 and its medical school in 1958. Although his favorite place to be was in the library, he held several jobs growing up to help with family expenses and pay for his education, including shoe shine boy, working at the Kellogg’s Corn Pops factory, and a newspaper route which he managed through medical school.
After practicing general medicine in the 1950s and 60s, with a stint as an emergency room doctor with the US Army stationed in Germany, he went on to train in dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Thereafter, he taught and trained dermatologists at the University of Colorado, where he was the acting head of the dermatology department until 1973. It was there that his research led to the discovery of Minoxidil (Rogaine). He was recognized as the Distinguished Inventor of the year in 1988 for his work with the first FDA-approved hair growth stimulant. He moved from academia in Denver to private practice in Miami in 1974.
In his free time, his love of travel and learning took him all over the world. He was fearless and stood up for what he believed in, even refusing to cancel a speaking engagement in Israel at the height of the Intifada. Sundays would find him in the library, reading the latest medical literature or researching the role of German doctors in the Holocaust, the subject of his latest lecture series in Germany and a topic close to his heart.
Guinter was also a proud Rotarian, rarely missing a Thursday meeting of his North Miami Beach branch or its annual Thanksgiving hot dog fundraiser. He was an active supporter of several educational and Jewish organizations, including the Miami Jewish Health Systems, where he was a Founder and resided after his 2006 stroke, Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, where he helped rebuild the dermatology department, and the University of Nebraska where two library additions bear his name.
On weekends Guinter taught his family the importance of taking time to participate in weekly Shabbat services, community service projects and instilled a love of learning. When Guinter wasn’t working or spending time with his loved ones, Guinter charismatically lectured and inspired health care practitioners globally.
Guinter leaves a legacy of philanthropy, humanitarianism, education and influence over a generation of doctors. He is survived by the love of his life and best friend Judy Felsenstein, son and daughter-in-law Bruce & Deborah Kahn, grandchildren Nathan & Emma Kahn, daughter Michelle Kahn, and brother and sister-in-law Marcel & Ilse Kahn.
In lieu of flowers, please support one of Guinter’s favorite charities:
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68182
www.unomaha.edu
(402) 554-2800
American Friends of Rambam Medical Center
521 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1731
New York, New York 10175
(212) 292-4499
www.aforam.org/make-a-donation
Greater Miami Jewish Federation Kahn Family Foundation Endowment
4200 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33137
(305) 576-4000
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68182
www.unomaha.edu
(402) 554-2800
Anti Defamation League
www.adl.org
866-386-3235
or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel (305) 865-2353
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