January 9, 2019
Social Psychologist, Research Scientist, and ISR Founding Member Bob Kahn dies at 100
Social psychologist Robert L. Kahn, a founding member of the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR), died on Sunday, January 6, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont at age 100. He will be remembered for his pioneering work on organizational theory and for his research on – and inspiring embodiment of – successful aging. Dr. Kahn had lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan for over 70 years. Since the 2012 death of his beloved wife, Beatrice (Bea), he spent an increasing amount of time with his daughters Marcia and Judith in Madison, Wisconsin and Janet in Burlington, Vermont.
Dr. Kahn had been a member of the University of Michigan (U-M) faculty for almost 40 years when he retired in 1988, having served as Director of the Survey Research Center at ISR from 1968 to 1976, and Acting Director of ISR in 1983. In the following decades, he continued to conduct innovative research and came almost daily to his ISR office. He was an active Research Scientist Emeritus, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, and Professor Emeritus of Health Services Management and Policy until a few years before his death.