Dr. Alan R. Kamen

PLEASE NOTE SERVICE LOCATION CHANGE:

Funeral Services will be held Graveside at North Lawn Cemetery, Wednesday, May 11 at 11:00 AM. Call the funeral home at 330-456-7291 with any questions.

Alan R. Kamen, M.D.
Dec. 19, 1937-May 5, 2022
Dr. Alan R. Kamen, formerly of Canton, OH, and Fort Lauderdale, FL, died Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Multi-care Capitol Medical Center, Olympia, WA; his death was due to complications of Parkinson’s Disease of two decades’ duration.

On December 19, 1937, Alan was the third son born to the late Morris Kamenetzky and the late Rose Rosenblum Kamenetzky. They resided in Cleveland Heights, OH, and operated Loew’s Hardware in downtown Cleveland. Alan and his older brothers, Norman Kamen and Sheldon Kamen lost their parents when Alan was 17; those events shaped their lives and forged an intense life-long bond.

Alan graduated from Cleveland Heights High School, The Ohio State University and The Ohio State University School of Medicine. He completed internships and residencies at Mt. Sinai Hospital of Cleveland, Cleveland VA hospital and University Hospital of Cleveland. Alan was certified by the American Board of internal Medicine and further certified by that Board’s Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Medicine. He was a member of the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity and enjoyed many years of affiliation with the chapter in Canton.

Alan was recruited to Aultman Hospital in 1968, by his cousin’s husband, Dr. Cyril V. Gross, who was on the Aultman staff. Edward Roth, President and CEO of Aultman, at the time of Alan’s 2001 retirement, wrote, in part; “During your tenure at Aultman you have made significant and lasting contributions to the field of cardiology and to the Aultman Heart Program. Under your guidance, the heart program has reached many milestones in patient care. Beginning in 1968, you were instrumental in bringing the first non-invasive heart lab to Stark County. From there, you became the first board-certified cardiologist, performed the first balloon angioplasty, the first trans-esophageal echocardiogram — just to name a few of your accomplishments.”

He was director of the cath lab from 1969-1982, Chairman of Internal Medicine from 1973-1975 and Medical Staff President, 1979-1980. Alan also spearheaded the efforts to bring open heart surgery to Aultman. He was the President of the East Central Ohio Heart Association, 1974-1975. He was the founding partner of Cardiology Associates of Canton.

In addition to his career, Alan enjoyed skiing, tennis, sailing, travel and all things technical. He was an early adopter of computers for his office and home. He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Guardians, a pleasure shared with his wife and his late father-in-law, Paul McCrea. Most importantly, he was dedicated to his family. He married Rebecca McCrea in 1974 and, with her, raised three outstanding children: Martin Kamen, DVM, spouse Meredith Kamen, Huntington Woods, MI; Jeannette Ferber, Data Analyst/Programmer at Kaiser Permanente, spouse, Cory Ferber, Alameda, CA,; and Benjamin Kamen, Founder of Olympia Noise Company and faculty member at The Evergreen State College, spouse, Zoë Torres, Olympia, WA. Above his own accomplishments, Alan felt tremendous pride in his beloved offspring; in their successes, but more so, in the dedicated and conscientious lives they lead.

In addition to Rebecca and his children, Alan is survived by grandchildren, Oona and Oscar Kamen-Torres, and Sylvie Rose and Jesse Kamen; brother, Sheldon Kamen, sister-in-law, Gail Kamen (Neil Blum); mother-in-law, Betty McCrea, brother-in-law, Bruce McCrea (Joan) and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Stewart, as well as many nieces and nephews whose fondness
for their Uncle Alan was a great joy for him. In addition to his parents, Alan was predeceased by his beloved oldest brother, Norman.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, May 10, from 3-5 PM at the Arnold Funeral Home at 1517 Market Ave N. and May 11, from 10-11AM at Temple Israel. Graveside Services will be Wednesday at 11:00 AM at North Lawn Cemetery with Rabbi Spitzer officiating.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Rabbi’s Discretionary fund at Temple Israel, Canton, Ohio, to The Betty Rowe Ramseur Nursing Scholarship Fund, c/o Louise Brown, Executive Director, The Shadyside Foundation, 532 South Aiken Avenue #302, Pittsburgh PA 15232 or to BrainSupportNetwork.org.

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