Eric Kahan died at age 74 after a long illness on November 13, 2024 at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.

He was born in Newark, N.J., to  Rosaline and Irving Kahan, and raised in the Jewish faith in St. Louis, Missouri.  Eric graduated from University City High School.  He was provided with a lab at the St. Louis Science Museum where he built an ion engine at age 17.  He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He then began a quest for spiritual development studying the teachings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky with J.G. Bennett at the International Academy for Continuous Education at Sherborne, Gloucestershire England in 1971-72).

 

Eric moved to Claymont Court in West Virginia to help build a Fourth Way community. 

Eric studied art at Boston’s Museum School. He traveled to Japan for instruction in ceramics and martial arts including Aikido and Tai Ch’i along with Zen Buddhism. In later years he lived in Oahu, San Francisco, and D.C. with his former spouse Debra Gavalas Kahan, and children Nikolas Gavalas, Alia Celesté Kahan, and Yuri Kahan.

 

Eric practiced in his career as a contract electronic engineer.  He built computers in the early days of the digital age.  He became a computer hardware specialist, focusing on research and development of medical and dental equipment.

Eric was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Rosaline Kahan and his infant daughter Arianna Rose Kahan.

 

Eric is survived by his children Nikolas Gavalas, of Denver, Alia Celesté Kahan of Granada, Nicaragua, and Yuri Kahan of Sacramento, California; and his former spouse Debra Gavalas Kahan.  He is also survived by his brother and guardian Randall Kahan and wife Joan Cauley of Arlington, Texas; sister Pamela Kahan Callison of Clarkdale, Arizona; nieces Catarina Callison, Abigail Kahan, Natalie Kahan, nephews Jonathan Kahan and Adam Kahan, daughter-in-law Phiphi Gavalas, and granddaughter Ava Linh Gavalas.  He was accompanied by his companion Audra Sheffield at the time of his passing.

He shared his insights and meditations with many of you across the planes of space and time.  Eric was not always accepted and understood by those who knew him best.  His beliefs and lifestyle were unconventional, but his achievements in engineering will benefit the health of many.   He was often seen as joyful in the company of his parrots and dogs in his final year of life.  He befriended those who were suffering, and related to them through the lens of Buddhist teaching.   

“There is no genius without a touch of madness.”  —Aristotle

Private memorial ceremonies were held by the family in Denver and Arlington, Texas.

Please share a prayer or meditation of your own tradition in the memory of Eric.   May his memory be a blessing to all.