Samuel N. Kolmen

Samuel N. Kolmen, 84, of 270 RidgeCrest Circle, Apt. 320, Lewisburg, passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at his home.

He was born March 20, 1930 in Brownsville, TX, a son of the late Isaac Joseph and Minna (Gerson) Kolmen. Since June 13, 1954 Sam has shared his life with his wife, Dr. Barbara (Kass) Kolmen, who survives.

A 1947 graduate of Brownsville High School in Texas, he continued his education at Brownsville Junior College, the University of Texas in Austin, where he received his Bachelors degree and at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where he received his PhD.   After Sam completed his doctoral work in the Physiology Department at UTMB in 1957 he was the first Jeanne B Kempner Post-doctoral Fellow.  This led him to London to do research at London Hospital Medical School and with the Queen’s Coroner.

In 1958 Sam returned to Galveston as a member of the faculty in Physiology.  He also directed the Physiology Medical and Graduate Teaching Programs and was an advisor for doctoral students.  At the Medical Branch he also served as Editor of Texas Reports on Biology and Medicine and as Research Coordinator for the Shriners Burns Institute.  The research produced by the Burns Institute contributed to improved burn care and to legislation requiring nonflammable sleep garments for children.

In 1975 he became founding chair of the Physiology Department at the new Wright State University School of Medicine (WSU) in Dayton, Ohio.  The school developed a unique curriculum that incorporated behavior and development as basic sciences; recognition of differences in learning rates and styles among students; self-assessment of faculty; emphasis on primary care; and integration of school into the community.

In the College of Science and Engineering at WSU he was involved in developing a Biomedical PhD. Program and a professional psychology Psy.D Program.  Sam became assistant dean in both the School of Medicine and the College of Science and Engineering and served as Assistant to the President of the University for Research.

In 1984 he became Deputy Dean at Hahnemann School of Medicine in Philadelphia.  He later consulted at the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Sam was appointed Director of Medical Education and Research at Mercy Medical Center in Pittsburgh in 1989.  There he worked closely with graduate medical education programs and Residency Review Committees.

In these different institutions and communities he took special pride in recruiting and facilitating professional development of promising faculty and students from diverse backgrounds; providing opportunities for experiences in the medical setting, broadening horizons of high school and college students; providing opportunities for medical students to do research and participate in seminars that enhance their critical thinking; facilitating collaborations between outstanding clinicians who did not have sufficient research training and skilled researchers on projects of mutual interests.

After his retirement in 1994 his volunteer activities included serving on a committee of the Allegheny Policy Council to improve teaching of science in the public schools; consulting about conflict resolution with a public agency; serving on the School Board of Adat Shalom Synagogue, the Board of Directors of the Beechwood Farms Nature Center and as treasurer of the Board of the North Hills Art Center.

Throughout Sam’s life he was active in synagogues and the Jewish communities in which he lived.  He also was an avid gardener in each of the diverse geologic and climatic areas.

Sam expressed himself through photography.  He also sketched and doodled.  In the late 1970s he began to paint with oils and then with acrylics. After he retired he continued to paint and began to exhibit his paintings.  His work was featured in juried and individual exhibitions and is represented in public and private collections.  In 2006 Sam was invited to join the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.

In 2010 Sam and Barbara moved to Lewisburg to be closer to their family.

When Sam proposed to Barbara he said “we will have great adventures.”  Their lives have been a great adventure of learning, exploring, painting, gardening, raising awesome children and sharing the joys of grandparenting.

Surviving in addition to his wife of 60 years are two daughters and sons-in-law, Benita Kolmen and Tom Solomon, of Lewisburg and Jeannette K. and Dr. Ernest Rosato, of Bryn Mawr; and five grandchildren, Francis, Gary and Madeline Rosato and Polly and Avigal Solomon.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Isyador Kolmen.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at Congregation Beth El, 249 Arch St., Sunbury, with Rabbi Nina H. Mandel, officiating.

Burial will follow in Beth El Cemetery, Northumberland.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sam’s name may be made to Congregation Beth El, 249 Arch St., Sunbury, PA 17801; Albright Care Services Benevolent Fund, 90 Maplewood Drive, Lewisburg, PA  17837; University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer Disease Research Center, UPMC Montefiore, 4 West, 3459 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA  15213; Congregation Adat Shalom Synagogue, 368 Guys Run Road, Cheswick, PA  15024

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, S. Second and St. Louis streets, Lewisburg.