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Beverly B. Kahn, 59, professor, counselor

Beverly Baublitz Kahn, 59, of Westtown, an assistant professor at Villanova University and a counselor, died of complications from cancer Tuesday at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Beverly Baublitz Kahn, 59, of Westtown, an assistant professor at Villanova University and a counselor, died of complications from cancer Tuesday at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

After earning her doctorate in counseling psychology from Temple University, Dr. Kahn joined the Department of Education and Human Services at Villanova in 1994.

The department educates teachers, human service providers, counselors, supervisors and administrators, offering academic degrees and certification and licensure programs. Mrs. Kahn taught courses and directed the department's human services programs.

She was dedicated and built successful collaborations with local public schools, her husband, Wallace Kahn Jr., said. In her role as a counselor educator, she helped Villanova athletes succeed on and off the field, he said.

Dr. Kahn also maintained a private clinical practice in Westtown, counseling children and families.

"Bev was truly a Renaissance woman," her husband said. She shared her photos and her artwork with family and friends, and loved flower arranging and gardening. A talented mezzo-soprano, Dr. Kahn studied voice for 20 years and sang at weddings and social events and to entertain nursing home residents.

A native of Camp Hill, Pa., Dr. Kahn earned a bachelor's degree in music from West Chester University and then taught music in the Coatesville Area School District. After earning a master's degree in school counseling from Villanova, she was a school counselor for 13 years at Strafford and Garnet Valley Elementary Schools and at Octorara Elementary School in Atglen.

In 1987, while at Octorara, she initiated a program to have students donate money to needy families instead of buying "Secret Santa" presents for each other. The children had to be encouraged at first, Dr. Kahn told an Inquirer reporter, but soon became enthusiastic. "They don't have anything. Zip. And we have everything," one 9-year-old participant said.

In addition to her husband of 31 years, Dr. Kahn is survived by a son, Wallace III; her mother, Audrey Baublitz; and a brother. A daughter, Cassandra, died in 2007.

A memorial celebration will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Church of the Loving Shepherd, 166 S. New St., Westtown. A second memorial celebration will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the Villanova University campus.

Donations may be made to Villanova University Development Office, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova, Pa. 19085, for the Beverly Kahn Scholarship Fund.