Charles “Bud” Bernard Kahn, M.D., age 87, passed away on June 29, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Susan (Segal) Kahn; they were married for almost 54 years before her passing in 2020. Born in Denver, he was the son of the late Maxwell Mathis Kahn and Ruth (Launberg) Kahn.
Bud’s was a life well lived. He graduated from the University of Colorado for both undergraduate and medical school, where he was first in his medical school class. He completed his residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and his fellowship at the Deaconess Hospital in Boston, where he met Sue.
He served as a major in the U.S. Army and worked at the Joslin Clinic in Boston. They lived in Swampscott for a short time and moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where he founded the state’s largest diabetes and endocrinology practice. Over his 50-plus years of medical practice, he was a clinical professor at Brown University Medical School, the first physician elected chairman of The Miriam Hospital board of trustees, a member of the Lifespan (now Brown University Health) board of trustees, president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and volunteer and Physician of the Year at the Rhode Island Free Clinic. He also volunteered at the Moi University School of Medicine in Eldoret, Kenya four times and served on the board of trustees at the Wheeler School.
Bud was an avid photographer, golfer, skier and runner, and loved to travel. Most importantly, he was a beloved member of the community and an amazing husband, friend, father and grandfather.
He is survived by his son Maxwell Kahn and his wife Deborah Weinswig of New York; his daughter Sheri Kahn of Wellesley; his sister Susan Gersten; and his grandchildren Ezra, Zahava and Madeleine “Maddy” Kahn. He was predeceased by his sister Vicki Ross. He was the brother-in-law of the late Jacob Segal and cousin of Harvey Levin. He leaves sister-in-law Marilyn Segal of Salem, his cousin Phyllis Levin, and his companion Phyllis Sagan of Swampscott.
A funeral service was held on July 2 at Temple Emanu-El, Providence, with burial following in the Pride of Lynn Cemetery, Lynn. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bud’s memory may be made to Rhode Island Free Clinic, Development Office, 655 Broad St., Providence, RI 02907, or to Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Avenue, Providence, RI 02906.
