IN MEMORIAM
George W. Hahn (189&197’7) George Walter Hahn, past president of the American Association of Orthodontists, died at the Casa Dorinda Retirement Residence in Santa Barbara, California, on Oct. 24, 1977, following a short illness. Dr. Hahn was born in Murphys, California, on Sept. 11, 1894. His dental education was interrupted in 1918 when he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War I. Having had some dental experience, he was assigned to the dental department at the San Pedro Naval Station, where he did a little of everything. He then returned to the University of California College of Dentistry. He graduated in 1919 and entered the practice of general dentistry in Berkeley, California. He then graduated from the Edward H. Angle School of Orthodontia in 1921 and that year began his illustrious career in the specialty of orthodontics in Berkeley:He retired from practice in 1968 and moved to Santa Barbara in 1975. Dr. Hahn had a distinguished career as an orthodontist, teacher, author, and leader of men. In 1930 he helped inaugurate an undergraduate orthodontic training program known as Curriculum II at the School of Dentistry at the University of California in San Francisco. It was a most successful experiment in dental education, one in which Dr. Hahn served as assistant professor from 1935 to 1965. He was a visiting lecturer at Northwestem University in 1945 and at the University of Southern California in 1947. He presented more than fifty papers before various orthodontic societies, principally in clinical orthodontics, with his primary interest being in the treatment of deciduous and mixeddentition cases. Dr. Hahn was president of the Berkeley Dental Society in 1924, president of the California Dental Association in 1944, and president of the American Association of Orthodontists in 1968. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon scholastic fraternity, and of Xi Psi Phi undergraduate dental fraternity. He was a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and held memberships in many dental and orthodontic societies. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Scroll from the American Association of Orthodontists in 1965 in recognition of his experienced contributions as chairman of the AA0 Preceptorship Qualifying Committee from 1960 to 1968. The supervised preceptorship program to train orthodontists required considerable time and effort on Dr. Hahn’s part because of the difficulties involved in this type of education. His leadership in directing both the preceptors and the preceptees led to the success of this program. He often said that, of all his endeavors, his work from 1958 to 1968 with the Qualifying Committees of both the American Association of Orthodontists and the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists was the most satisfying. Also in 1968, the American Board of Orthodontics awarded Dr. Hahn the Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award for his many contributions to the art and science of orthodontics. 461
462
In memoriam
April
197X
George W. Hahn, 1966 president of the American Association of OrthodonMs. This was Dr. Hahn’s favorite photograph. A formal photograph was published in the January, 1966, issue of the AMERICAN JOURNAL
OF ORTHODONTICS.
Among orthodontic organizations, the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontics was the closest to Dr. Hahn’s heart. His devotion to Dr. Angle, the father of modem orthodontics, is without parallel. It was this dedication and his untiring efforts, combined with his great energies, that helped make the Angle Society a symbol of excellence in orthodontics. He followed the ideals and philosophies of Dr. Angle; both were leaders, both were taskmasters, both were developers of new ideas, and both demanded perfection from their students, their work, and their manner. His alertness of mind, good judgment, and warmth of personal interest endeared him to both his students and his colleagues. He never lost his temper, he always had time to listen and he was never too busy to discuss a case. He loved the out-of-doors. With his quiet sense of humor, sitting under the pine trees and swapping yams was a favorite pastime. Every summer would find him at his cabin in the mountains at Dutch Flat, where he had a workshop as sparkling as his office, with every tool in its place. He liked to hunt, was an excellent fly fisherman, and enjoyed all
Volume 13 Number 4
In memoriam
463
types of sports, particularly golf. His love of music and his talent at the piano provided much enjoyment for his family and friends. Surviving are his devoted wife, Dorothy, whom he married in 1924; two daughters, Mrs. Margaret Jager and Miss Dowrene Hahn, both of Newport Beach, California; two sisters, Miss Dorothy Hahn and Mrs. Vera Dewitt, both of Seattle, Washington; and three grandchildren. Kindness and the giving of one’s self are the essence of greatness, and this was George Hahn. He lived 83 happy and active years, years of personal accomplishments, academic achievement, and service to others. He was a man of great pride and vision, with a heart of gold. How fortunate orthodontics has been to have had the leadership and friendship of this man who has left us a precious and rich heritage which we shall always treasure! John S. Rathbone
2780 State Street, No. 4 Santa Barbara, California
George W. Hahn (189&197’7) George Walter Hahn, past president of the American Association of Orthodontists, died at the Casa Dorinda Retirement Residence in Santa Barbara, California, on Oct. 24, 1977, following a short illness. Dr. Hahn was born in Murphys, California, on Sept. 11, 1894. His dental education was interrupted in 1918 when he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War I. Having had some dental experience, he was assigned to the dental department at the San Pedro Naval Station, where he did a little of everything. He then returned to the University of California College of Dentistry. He graduated in 1919 and entered the practice of general dentistry in Berkeley, California. He then graduated from the Edward H. Angle School of Orthodontia in 1921 and that year began his illustrious career in the specialty of orthodontics in Berkeley:He retired from practice in 1968 and moved to Santa Barbara in 1975. Dr. Hahn had a distinguished career as an orthodontist, teacher, author, and leader of men. In 1930 he helped inaugurate an undergraduate orthodontic training program known as Curriculum II at the School of Dentistry at the University of California in San Francisco. It was a most successful experiment in dental education, one in which Dr. Hahn served as assistant professor from 1935 to 1965. He was a visiting lecturer at Northwestem University in 1945 and at the University of Southern California in 1947. He presented more than fifty papers before various orthodontic societies, principally in clinical orthodontics, with his primary interest being in the treatment of deciduous and mixeddentition cases. Dr. Hahn was president of the Berkeley Dental Society in 1924, president of the California Dental Association in 1944, and president of the American Association of Orthodontists in 1968. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon scholastic fraternity, and of Xi Psi Phi undergraduate dental fraternity. He was a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and held memberships in many dental and orthodontic societies. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Scroll from the American Association of Orthodontists in 1965 in recognition of his experienced contributions as chairman of the AA0 Preceptorship Qualifying Committee from 1960 to 1968. The supervised preceptorship program to train orthodontists required considerable time and effort on Dr. Hahn’s part because of the difficulties involved in this type of education. His leadership in directing both the preceptors and the preceptees led to the success of this program. He often said that, of all his endeavors, his work from 1958 to 1968 with the Qualifying Committees of both the American Association of Orthodontists and the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists was the most satisfying. Also in 1968, the American Board of Orthodontics awarded Dr. Hahn the Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award for his many contributions to the art and science of orthodontics. 461
462
In memoriam
April
197X
George W. Hahn, 1966 president of the American Association of OrthodonMs. This was Dr. Hahn’s favorite photograph. A formal photograph was published in the January, 1966, issue of the AMERICAN JOURNAL
OF ORTHODONTICS.
Among orthodontic organizations, the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontics was the closest to Dr. Hahn’s heart. His devotion to Dr. Angle, the father of modem orthodontics, is without parallel. It was this dedication and his untiring efforts, combined with his great energies, that helped make the Angle Society a symbol of excellence in orthodontics. He followed the ideals and philosophies of Dr. Angle; both were leaders, both were taskmasters, both were developers of new ideas, and both demanded perfection from their students, their work, and their manner. His alertness of mind, good judgment, and warmth of personal interest endeared him to both his students and his colleagues. He never lost his temper, he always had time to listen and he was never too busy to discuss a case. He loved the out-of-doors. With his quiet sense of humor, sitting under the pine trees and swapping yams was a favorite pastime. Every summer would find him at his cabin in the mountains at Dutch Flat, where he had a workshop as sparkling as his office, with every tool in its place. He liked to hunt, was an excellent fly fisherman, and enjoyed all
Volume 13 Number 4
In memoriam
463
types of sports, particularly golf. His love of music and his talent at the piano provided much enjoyment for his family and friends. Surviving are his devoted wife, Dorothy, whom he married in 1924; two daughters, Mrs. Margaret Jager and Miss Dowrene Hahn, both of Newport Beach, California; two sisters, Miss Dorothy Hahn and Mrs. Vera Dewitt, both of Seattle, Washington; and three grandchildren. Kindness and the giving of one’s self are the essence of greatness, and this was George Hahn. He lived 83 happy and active years, years of personal accomplishments, academic achievement, and service to others. He was a man of great pride and vision, with a heart of gold. How fortunate orthodontics has been to have had the leadership and friendship of this man who has left us a precious and rich heritage which we shall always treasure! John S. Rathbone
2780 State Street, No. 4 Santa Barbara, California
