KUHNER DR. SUSAN KUHNER, was born in Cleveland on Aug. 16,1947 to a prominent dentist, Dr. Arthur Kuhner and his wife Mary Franklin Kuhner. She passed away on April 8, 2012. Her parents, beloved grandmother Nettie "Mummum" Franklin, and older brother Johnny predeeded her death. She is survived by her other brother Thomas who resides in New Hampshire and her nephew Timothy who currently resides in Mallorca with his family. After graduating from Case Western Reserve undergrad and from University of Portland (Oregon) with a Ph.D in Psychology, Susan moved to the Los Angles area where she set up a private practice and founded The Kuhner Institute of Multiple Pesonalities. She became a prominant leader in the Los Angeles Women's and Gay Rights Movements in the 70's and 80's. In the late 80's she moved back to Ohio to help care for her aging grandmother Nettie and her father Arthur at Twin Lakes in Kent. Susan was bright, funny, outgoing, loved people, music and the theatre. She was a naturally talented performer and while in Ohio acted in community theatre productions and worked as a psychologist in area nursing homes. In 2011 Susan retired and moved to Palm Desert, CA, where she happily lived until she passed on Easter Sunday. Her life may have been short by some standards but it was full, rich, and loving. Susan was wonderful and will be greatly missed by those who knew her. -
Her passing was a shock to me, as we'd just gotten "reacquainted" via e-mails. She was someone I admired so very much in high school. She will be sorely missed by those of us who had the privilege to know her.
I had known Susan since I was 5 years old. I can still remember her childhood home, on the corner of Fenwick and Silsby (I hope that those are the correct street names). Susan and I remained friends during our elementary school years. Susan was a great friend, full of high spirit, and a phenomenal sense of humor. When I was about 10 years old, Susan invited me over to her house to help decorate her family Christmas tree. That was a first for me, coming from a very conservative jewish upbringing. I did not want to intrude on the Kuhner family tradition, but her parents and her brothers made me feel most comfortable. When I moved to Los Angeles, I remember reading about Susan's clinic, which specialized in multiple personality disorders, in the LA times. Susan was also interviewed on television, regarding her clinic. There again, Susan and I crossed paths. Several years later, my son was doing research for a college report on multiple personality disorders (I believe that the name has been changed to dissociative identity disorder). I immediately thought of Susan. I called Susan and asked if she could help my son with his research. Susan was most accommodating. I felt privileged to have known Susan for that many years.
What a sensational person: creative, funny, empahic, and loyal. Anyone who was in the Heights Choir will remember her conducting "Shadrack" and leaving each of the audiences on the Boston tour in stitches. I knew her brother John though Cain Park dramatics, and I had the privilege to accompany Susan every time she perfomred "I Ain't Down Yet" from The Unsinkable Molly Brown. I ran into her again at the 30th Reunion, and I convinced her to come to the cocktail party at the 40th. She had a great time though her memories of life at Heights were far from unmixed. I remember that beeming smile, that 'can-do' attitude, and that great spirit. Like her brother John, she was a giver, and also like him, taken far too soon.
I too was shocked when learning of her passing. Susan and I were great friends during our days at Northwood, Wiley Jr. High and Heights High. We were almost neighbors as I lived on Fenwick by Hillbrook and she by Silsby. When I got married, I bought a house on Silsby by Fenwick and every time I passed her house, I wondered where she lived then. I have many, many memories of our youth and growing up. We shared our love of music, drama and sports. I remember riding my bike over there on Sundays and joining in with her and her family projects. Such great friends. we were, then we grew up and lost touch as is what happened to many of my friends. It will be great to see everyone at our upcoming 50th reunion, but Susan will definitely be missed. Rest in Peace, my dear friend Susan.
I remember one production with Susie & Marty Fromin, when she picked up Marty like a sack of potatoes and just ran with him. I laughed so hard I cried. What a spirit! I'm so grateful for this memory of a loving and playful soul.
David Brown
KUHNER DR. SUSAN KUHNER, was born in Cleveland on Aug. 16,1947 to a prominent dentist, Dr. Arthur Kuhner and his wife Mary Franklin Kuhner. She passed away on April 8, 2012. Her parents, beloved grandmother Nettie "Mummum" Franklin, and older brother Johnny predeeded her death. She is survived by her other brother Thomas who resides in New Hampshire and her nephew Timothy who currently resides in Mallorca with his family. After graduating from Case Western Reserve undergrad and from University of Portland (Oregon) with a Ph.D in Psychology, Susan moved to the Los Angles area where she set up a private practice and founded The Kuhner Institute of Multiple Pesonalities. She became a prominant leader in the Los Angeles Women's and Gay Rights Movements in the 70's and 80's. In the late 80's she moved back to Ohio to help care for her aging grandmother Nettie and her father Arthur at Twin Lakes in Kent. Susan was bright, funny, outgoing, loved people, music and the theatre. She was a naturally talented performer and while in Ohio acted in community theatre productions and worked as a psychologist in area nursing homes. In 2011 Susan retired and moved to Palm Desert, CA, where she happily lived until she passed on Easter Sunday. Her life may have been short by some standards but it was full, rich, and loving. Susan was wonderful and will be greatly missed by those who knew her. -
The Plain Dealer on Apr. 15, 2012
Carol (Formerly Eleanor) Hammer (Willis-Holden)
Her passing was a shock to me, as we'd just gotten "reacquainted" via e-mails. She was someone I admired so very much in high school. She will be sorely missed by those of us who had the privilege to know her.
Barbara Cholfin (Oppenheim)
I had known Susan since I was 5 years old. I can still remember her childhood home, on the corner of Fenwick and Silsby (I hope that those are the correct street names). Susan and I remained friends during our elementary school years. Susan was a great friend, full of high spirit, and a phenomenal sense of humor. When I was about 10 years old, Susan invited me over to her house to help decorate her family Christmas tree. That was a first for me, coming from a very conservative jewish upbringing. I did not want to intrude on the Kuhner family tradition, but her parents and her brothers made me feel most comfortable. When I moved to Los Angeles, I remember reading about Susan's clinic, which specialized in multiple personality disorders, in the LA times. Susan was also interviewed on television, regarding her clinic. There again, Susan and I crossed paths. Several years later, my son was doing research for a college report on multiple personality disorders (I believe that the name has been changed to dissociative identity disorder). I immediately thought of Susan. I called Susan and asked if she could help my son with his research. Susan was most accommodating. I felt privileged to have known Susan for that many years.
Joel Eigen
What a sensational person: creative, funny, empahic, and loyal. Anyone who was in the Heights Choir will remember her conducting "Shadrack" and leaving each of the audiences on the Boston tour in stitches. I knew her brother John though Cain Park dramatics, and I had the privilege to accompany Susan every time she perfomred "I Ain't Down Yet" from The Unsinkable Molly Brown. I ran into her again at the 30th Reunion, and I convinced her to come to the cocktail party at the 40th. She had a great time though her memories of life at Heights were far from unmixed. I remember that beeming smile, that 'can-do' attitude, and that great spirit. Like her brother John, she was a giver, and also like him, taken far too soon.
Mary Kerr (Berr)
Oh yes, George Strickling's last Choir! Susie Kuhner kept us all laughing. She was funny, sincere and very talented. I can hear her laugh to this day.
Larry Lapine
I too was shocked when learning of her passing. Susan and I were great friends during our days at Northwood, Wiley Jr. High and Heights High. We were almost neighbors as I lived on Fenwick by Hillbrook and she by Silsby. When I got married, I bought a house on Silsby by Fenwick and every time I passed her house, I wondered where she lived then. I have many, many memories of our youth and growing up. We shared our love of music, drama and sports. I remember riding my bike over there on Sundays and joining in with her and her family projects. Such great friends. we were, then we grew up and lost touch as is what happened to many of my friends. It will be great to see everyone at our upcoming 50th reunion, but Susan will definitely be missed. Rest in Peace, my dear friend Susan.
Love Larry
Trudy Gottlieb (Lapin)
I remember one production with Susie & Marty Fromin, when she picked up Marty like a sack of potatoes and just ran with him. I laughed so hard I cried. What a spirit! I'm so grateful for this memory of a loving and playful soul.