Robert Arnold Cahn

He is survived by his wife of eleven years, Maureen McDermott Cahn; his four children, Andrea Cahn (Carl Watts), Tracy Gillespie, Adele Smith (John Ran Smith) and Jeff Cahn (Cathi Cahn); two grandchildren, Danielle Cahn and Jesse Cahn; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Bob also leaves behind Maureen’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who were a second family to him.

Known to family and friends as Bob, Uncle Bob, or Bob the Fish, Bob lived a full life, always chasing the next adventure. He was born in Great Neck Long Island New York on August 19th 1932. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy NY in 1954. He began his career at Ingersoll Rand utilizing his degree and passion for mechanical engineering to sell heavy equipment. He started his family in Richmond VA, after marrying Angela Vecchi, from Canandaigua, NY. They also lived in Norfolk VA before moving to the DC area to raise their 4 children, where Bob shifted his career to government service at the US State Department/USAID. His positions spanned 20 years and centered on being a procurement officer for the Korea Desk, and later the Thailand Desk, both countries where he moved his family and pursued a series of adventures including cross country skiing, scuba diving, and scaling Mt. Everest. He was known to eat the strangest food and drink available. "Eat the local food and drink the local beer" was his motto.

After he retired from government in 1988 he joined his friend and former fraternity brother at CSC Scientific as the international sales officer for the scientific equipment company. Not long into retirement Bob embarked on building a house in Wicomico Church VA where the next chapter of his life as a Northern-Necker focused on sailing in the Chesapeake bay, traveling around the US, and picking up a variety of new hobbies, including motorcycling, photography, landscaping, pool building.

In 2011 the most recent chapter of his life began when he met Maureen and embarked on one of the world’s beautiful love stories. Their romance and marriage was a force, much like the two of them, and he adored her unequivocally. As individuals and as a couple they made friends everywhere, never met a stranger and enjoyed immensely their cozy and simple lives together, sharing family, friends and faith.

A funeral mass will be held on January 24th at 11:00am at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Kilmarnock, Virginia, followed by the interment of his ashes at The St Francis de Sales Catholic Church Cemetery next door.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Kilmarnock, Virginia.