Janice Diane Kahn, known to family as “Jano,” “Mom” and “Nana” and “Jan” to her friends, was born in Chicago on May 20, 1930, to Sam and Faye Horwitz. Jan peacefully passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, October 24, leaving behind a legacy of love, inspiration, adventure and a nurturing spirit.
Some walk through life … Jan danced.
She and her older sister, Rosie, had childhoods filled with dance lessons and recitals. When Jan entered the University of Miami, she took some moves with her, and quickly became a Hurricane Honey, capturing hearts on Saturdays as a spirited cheerleader.
She later returned to her hometown, Chicago, to complete her college education at Northwestern University … which was not known for its football team nor its cheerleading squad. That being said, Jan continued to “dance” through the windy city’s social scene, where her unique blend of energy and charm earned her the title of “Belle of Chicago.”
So many people play it safe … Jan took risks.
And what’s riskier than a blind date? It was a sunny day at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, when Jan entered, without the benefit of Googling the handsome young doctor in training, whom she was about to meet. Bob Kahn was completing his medical training at the renowned LA County General Hospital. It was a dice roll for the both of them … and they won.
What followed was a long-distance romance fueled by handwritten love letters, phone calls and an indescribable feeling that no distance would keep them apart. And no distance could. On April 10, 1960, Jan Horwitz became Jan Kahn. And the two became Doctor and Mrs. Robert M. Kahn.
It was not only the start of a marriage, it was the start of partnership that would see the young couple move to the quaint beach town of Pacific Palisades, where Bob would establish his medical practice, and Jan would help him build it.
Everyone has a mother … Not everyone had Jan.
Stepping into the role of her life, Jan delivered three beautiful sons into the world: Michael, Bobby and Jonathan. The boys passed through John Thomas Dye School, Harvard, Thacher and Pali High, eventually landing at prestigious institutions: USC, UCSB and Stanford, respectively. They didn’t get there on their own. They got there with a force of nature behind them … a force they knew was always there, whether it be on the sidelines of school sporting events, driving to tennis tournaments all over Los Angeles, a school play, a graduation or even a heartbreak. She was there. Always.
A city girl takes to the ocean.
Jan and her family had some of their most memorable moments on sailboats. Before they were married, the couple purchased their first sailboat, a modest 24-foot vessel, but as their family grew, so did the size of the boats.
Only one thing remained the same with each upgrade: the name JANO. It was one of those nicknames that when Bob spoke it, you knew there was love. So why wouldn’t that be the name of every boat the Kahns sailed to Catalina Island for unforgettable summer vacations?
But all the JANOs weren’t about leisure. Bob was an avid yacht racer whose adventures took him all over the world from Hawaii to Mexico to New Zealand to Tonga … and the city girl was always by his side, supporting him, positioning him and doing whatever she could to get him on the right boat in the right race.
This is what she did for the entire family. She would break the door down for them, and somehow do it in a way that was endearing to those who witnessed the splintered wood and the path she would create for anyone whom she loved.
Back to work.
Anyone who knew Jan knew her love of Laura Ashley dresses. Something about those dresses … the beauty, the class and the femininity. So, she waltzed into Laura Ashley in Bullocks, in Westwood village. She was older than every other sales person. In fact, she was twice the age of most of them.
After basically demanding a job, she went to work, showing those young sales people how it was done. She quickly became a record-breaking saleswoman where she was lauded by management, and adored by her young colleagues and every customer that walked in the store.
Those were some of her happiest days, and Jan created yet another family there at Laura Ashley … and as usual, she became a matriarch known for her passion, energy, wit and a sense of humor that manifested itself every time she told a story.
Passing the torch.
In the late ’90s she became a grandmother, and took on a new role as “Nana.” The first recipient of that new role was Madison (the first girl in the family) who became her new shopping partner around town.
Retailers rejoiced! The two of them could be spotted in all the high-end children clothing shops. But clothes were only a symbol of the bond they had. What was beneath it is what really sealed it. They were united by a sense of humor that only they shared. It was a look in the eyes or a slight smile that maybe only they could recognize.
Three more grandchildren would follow, all of whom became the complete focus of her life. And albeit it, not used as frequently as Supermom, Nana became “Super-Nana.”
This is what she did throughout her life. She took roles that many simply “do” and she “filled” them. She filled them in a way that made people want to be around her, made people want to love her and made people want to be like her.
A beloved wife. A super mom and nana. A friend to so many. She inspired everyone around her to be better than they thought they could be. She did this simply by being “her.”
Jan’s journey may have come to an end, but the spirit of adventure, love and unwavering support she shared with the world will continue to inspire and uplift those who were fortunate enough to know and love her.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Bob Kahn; her three cherished sons, Michael, Bobby, and Jonathan; her four grandchildren, Madi, James, Sammy and Benjy; her niece, Jennifer Doolas; and many friends who will forever treasure the love and joy she brought into their lives. A celebration of Jan’s life will be held early in the new year.
