Terry Lee Kuhn

Terry Lee Kuhn of Hudson, Ohio took leave of his life at age 82 on September 4, 2024. He was born September 9, 1941 in Hubbard, Oregon, to Raymond J. Kuhn and Shirley J. Townsend Kuhn, both of whom preceded him in death. 

With a career spanning 1963 through 2003, Terry taught band, chorus, and general music classes in primary and secondary schools in the Gervais (Oregon) Union High School District and the Salem (Oregon) Public Schools. He served as a faculty member at Mt. Angel College and the University of Maryland at College Park, and as a professor and administrator at Kent State University, where he taught music education methods and research courses. He co-authored three books, contributed chapters or articles to six books, published fourteen adjudicated articles in seven research journals, and co-edited a research monograph for which he co-authored two chapters. He served as editor of Contributions to Music Education and co-editor of the NACADA Journal, each for six years. As an administrator, he was proud that those employed in his unit worked with him and not for him. He served two terms on the Board of Zoning Appeals in Kent. 

His own reflections detail the time he played clarinet in the Marion County Citizens Band under conductor Charles Yukl, recorder in various chamber ensembles in the Washington DC area, teaching music and research courses, administering, and composing music. Studying Albury Castell’s study guides in Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics with Randy Moore were important formative life experiences. He remembered his students with the greatest fondness, particularly those master’s and doctoral students, such as Dawn Baker, Wendy Sims and Pat Flowers, with whom he worked closely as thesis or dissertation adviser. Colleagues Jim Louis and Cheryl Casper transcended professional relationships into long-term personal friendships. 

Perhaps the greatest challenge of his life was constantly dealing with diabetes mellitus, a disease whose progression since diagnosis in 1949 resulted in many medical challenges. After reading Dr Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution in 2008, he followed a low carbohydrate diet and experienced a dramatic improvement in blood sugar and weight control. 

In spite of his physical challenges, he was a happy person and credited his wife, Liz, and their daughters, Kathy and Lisa, as high points in his life. Kathy and Lisa because they turned out to be substantial people and have made good lives for themselves, and Liz because she has been a constant source of support, commitment, intelligence, independence, and love. 

In 2010, he met the Ghimirey family, Bhutanese from refugee camps in Nepal. He mentored Nilam and her brother, Kailash, through high school. He assisted Nilam in getting admittance to college and medical school, where she became a doctor, and supported Kailash in entering the automotive program at Stark State Technical College, where he became a top-notch auto mechanic. Terry and Liz created the group, Woven in Exile, to help the refugee women with their weaving activities.

A Celebration of Life in A+ Major will be held on October 18, 2024 at 200 Laurel Lake Drive in the Community Room. A pre-celebration gathering will begin at 9:30 am EDT. The Celebration of Life program will begin at 10:00 am EDT, followed by a reception afterwards in the Bistro. For those unable to attend in person, please use the following Zoom Meeting link https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85431451809?pwd%3DKNOfu21xdeOdk4v06NiEKpKyoNXPxz.1&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0uRZhz5fcEjBy4N-6WC0jp

Donations in Terry Kuhn’s name, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to:

The Laurel Lake Foundation
200 Laurel Lake Dr.
Hudson, OH 44236
330-650-0681.