Steven 'Steve' Kahl 

Steven John Kahl, age 55, fondly recognized by family and friends as “The Best Steve Ever,” died peacefully at home in Norwich, VT on July 4th, 2024. Steve died with Multiple System Atrophy, a devastating neurodegenerative illness with which he lived courageously and fully.

Born on May 9, 1969 in Arlington Heights, IL to James and Judy Kahl, the middle of three children, Steve grew up in many places, including Pittsburgh, PA; Rancho Santa Fe, CA; and Potomac, MD and spent much time with extended family in Prairie du Sac, WI (his parent’s hometown).

He first came to the Upper Valley to attend Dartmouth College and graduated in 1991 with a degree in philosophy. He spent his last year as a Senior Fellow, working on a year-long research project titled “Beginning beginnings” which can be found in Baker Library. He loved Dartmouth. He made lifelong friends; played rugby, hiked, skied and spent time at the Land Grant; and was a member of Phi Delt fraternity. After graduation, Steve returned to the Washington DC area and worked as a technology consultant at Arthur Anderson before moving to Minneapolis to pursue a PhD in Philosophy at the University of Minnesota where he focused on logic and epistemology (theory of knowledge).

A year into his PhD, he was introduced by a mutual friend to Suzie Rubin, who had just moved to Minneapolis (literally that day). After earning a master’s degree and thoroughly assessing the job prospects for philosophy PhDs (and getting engaged to Suzie …), Steve returned to the business world, first working at Deloitte Consulting and later joining Piper Jaffray as an equity research analyst focused on enterprise software. After five years in Minneapolis enjoying great friends, the lakes, the cold, and the State Fair, Steve and Suzie relocated to Boston and Steve continued to work in equity research at Goldman Sachs.

Steve and Suzie became parents just three weeks after moving to Boston. Their children, Henry and Hattie, were born two years apart and the family settled in Winchester, MA. Steve had a strong desire to find a career that would allow him to spend more time with his family and return to an academic setting. He was accepted to MIT’s Sloan School of Management and completed a PhD in Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. After seven wonderful years in Winchester, MA, including several as a youth soccer coach, many afternoon trips to Wingaersheek Beach, an untold number of Kelly’s roast beef sandwiches and D’Agostino’s meatball subs, Steve joined the faculty at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and the family relocated to Wilmette, IL.

Steve took to academia – he taught technology strategy, collaborated on innovation focused research, and enjoyed the rigorous research seminar culture. Outside of work, Steve enjoyed kayaking on Lake Michigan, picnics at the beach, cheering on the sidelines, and enjoying the sports and restaurant scene in Chicago. After five years, Steve was offered the amazing opportunity to join the Dartmouth faculty as a professor at Tuck and he relocated with his family to Hanover, NH.

Steve joined the Strategy & Management Group at Tuck. He taught organizational behavior and developed many of the entrepreneurial management offerings at Tuck. He was the inaugural Faculty Director of Tuck’s Center for Entrepreneurship. His research focused on innovation and the emergence of new markets and technology, and he mentored students, advised on independent studies, facilitated experiential learning, and helped to innovate offerings for Dartmouth undergraduates. Steve built a wonderful and supportive community at Tuck – both personally and professionally.

Steve loved being in the Upper Valley, sharing Hanover and Dartmouth with Suzie, Henry and Hattie. He adored his dog Gus who was a source of joy from the moment he joined the family. He loved his kids, supporting them, teaching them, being present for them and their friends.

Steve’s love language was food – eating, cooking, sharing with family and friends. Always a foodie, it was in Chicago that Steve discovered the Green Egg, and he spent hours devising elaborate menus and perfecting his technique to deliver the best brisket, ribs, and jalapeno poppers. He loved a good BBQ, a great salty French fry, the perfect onion ring, condiments, Lou’s banana cream pie, untold flavors of ice cream and a wide range of chewy candy – wine gums being a particular favorite.

In the last few years of his life nothing could diminish Steve’s spirit, his positivity, his smile, his ability to accept and adjust to his evolving new normal, and his innate ability to connect with people. He gratefully and gracefully accepted and appreciated those who cared for him – family, an amazing group of caregivers, a wonderful health care team. Every day Steve continued teaching those around him - the importance of enjoying and focusing on the small things – the sweetness of a piece of licorice, how to communicate without speaking, the joy of spending time in the presence of family and friends. He deeply felt the truth of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – the anthem of his beloved Liverpool Football Club.

Steve courageously chose hospice care and died peacefully at home together with his family and his beloved pup Gus. He is survived by his wife Suzie Rubin, his children Henry and Hattie Kahl, his parents Jim and Judy Kahl, sister Kristin Kahl, brother and sister-in-law Greg and Jo-Anne Kahl, sister-in-law Emily Rubin and extended family.


Donations in Steve’s memory to support Palliative Care at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center can be made online at https://dhmcalumdev.hitchcock.org/giving/dartmouth-health-other. Please include the fund name “Palliative Care Education Fund,” and specify that your gift is in memory of Steve Kahl. 

We will joyously celebrate Steve’s life at the Hanover Inn on Saturday, August 10th at 1:30 pm with a service followed by a reception chock full of food and drink inspired by Steve.

Rand-Wilson funeral home is assisting the family.

 

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