Political activist, feminist leader Felicia Kahn funeral set for tomorrow
FELICIA SCHORNSTEIN KAHN, a political icon of the Democratic Party, a civic leader, an advocate for feminism and an outspoken civil rights leader for decades, passed away on June 21, 2018. She was 91.
FELICIA KAHN
Kahn was heavily involved in political campaigns for decades, including the political efforts of Moon Landrieu for mayor, Mary Landrieu to the United States Senate, and recently John Bel Edwards for governor. On the national level, she attended ten Democratic National Conventions often as a delegate or alternate.
In 2016, Kahn was the second oldest delegate to the convention that selected Hillary Rodham Clinton to run as the first woman presidential candidate from one of the two major political parties. Kahn did not let her age limit her involvement in politics and advocacy in any way. She remained active through the years even adapting to new technology as a frequent user of Twitter. At the time of her passing, Kahn was serving as an elected member of the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, representing District “B”. She was also a former elected official of the Democratic State Central Committee.
Kahn attended Newman School and graduated from Newcomb College in 1948.
While at Newcomb, Kahn’s interest in political action was encouraged by several of her professors. She cast her first ballot for Harry S. Truman in 1948 and remained a lifelong Democrat. At Newcomb, she joined the League of Women Voters of New Orleans (LWVNO) to help raise voter awareness and register women to vote.
Her deep concern for others and her commitment to service led her to her first job in the Louisiana Department of Public Welfare where she had first-hand experience with the effects of segregation. In 1949, Kahn participated in one of the first integrated meetings in New Orleans to discuss the integration of the League of Women Voters. She continued to work to further civil rights efforts through the ‘50s and ‘60s and served on the first integrated board of the Dryades YMCA.
When she married Charles N. Kahn, Jr., she left her job at the Department of Welfare to start a family, but she remained committed to her activism and was often seen with her children in tow as she promoted voter participation for the LWVNO. She later divorced Charles N. Kahn, Jr.
In 1954 she made her first foray into partisan politics working in Martha Robinson’s campaign for the New Orleans City Council. Later in the 1960s, she was one of the inaugurating members of the New Orleans Coalition (one of the city’s first integrated political organizations) and was a key member of the Independent Women’s Organization (IWO); during the same period she served as president of the LWVNO from 1966-69.
She is survived by three children: Chip Kahn (JoAnn Willis), Elizabeth Kahn (Steve Seebol), and Felicia Kahn Michelson as well as three grandchildren. She was predeceased by two grandchildren, Saul and Seth Kahn, as well as a longtime companion of over 25 years, Dick Troy.
A funeral service was jointly conducted by Rabbi Matthew Reimer and Emeritus Rabbi Ed Paul Cohn at Temple Sinai, 6227 St Charles Ave. on Monday, June 25, at 11:00 a.m. Interment followed immediately at Hebrew Rest Cemetery No. 3, 2100 Pelopidas St..
Donations in her name can be made to Planned Parenthood or the Social Justice Fund at Temple Sinai.
Arrangements are by Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home of Metairie, 1600 N. Causeway Blvd. For more information, call 504-835-2341. Condolences may be expressed online.
