Kurt Hahn, senior member of the board of the North Sonoma County Healthcare District (NSCHD) and former Healdsburg City Finance/Economic Development Director, announced his retirement and resignation from the NSCHD board at its regular meeting, Wednesday, January 30th.
Hahn, who turns 75 years this year, said “Fifteen years of service to Healdsburg District Hospital and the district is enough.”
He added, "The time has come to devote more time to my family and to travel. Both my wife, Joandell, and I experienced serious health challenges over the past few years, and although we were lucky, you just never know when something might reoccur.”
Hahn was appointed to another term on the HSCHD board in Novembe when he ran without opposition. He was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., last summer, and has been a frequent commenter on Healdsburg Patch.
In his statement to the press announcing his resignation, he made reference to a recent health crisis of his own. “During my own recent cancer treatment, I was hospitalized in the isolation room at Healdsburg District Hospital for a week with a white blood cell count near zero and at considerable risk.
"I will forever be grateful to the 50 some caring nurses and staff, and the entire hospital that supports them. Without a doubt, Healdsburg District Hospital saved my life."
Hahn's efforts first to save, then to strengthen the community hospital have been long-standing, ever since he and Dr. Dan Rose joined in the community effort to save the hospital from closure when HCA Colombia threatened to close it 15 years ago. Along with Dr. Rose and Henry Hersch, negotiated the purchase of the hospital from HCA Colombia and put together the financing package to buy it.
He also helped establish the regional health care district, which includes all of Windsor, Healdsburg, Geyserville and Cloverdale, and helped upgrade hospital services available to the district, in collaboration with the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County
"I do think my time to leave the board has come," his statement continued, "but I do so with the satisfaction of having had the opportunity to repay a community that has done so much for me and my family.”
In a recent message to Patch, he added, "“I do think with all the changes in healthcare the district will benefit from a younger voice.”
Kurt and his wife, Joandell, have been active in the community for the 36 years they have lived here. Joandell, who for 18 years was Senior Manager for Business Services for the Healdsburg Unified School District, was also president of the Post 111 American Legion Auxiliary and a founding member of the Healdsburg Educational Foundation.
Prior to joining the hospital board, Mr. Hahn was the City of Healdsburg’s Finance/Economic Development Director for 22 years. He also served as president of the Healdsburg Kiwanis, president of the Redwood Empire Council of the Boy Scouts, and is a charter member of the board of Healdsburg Shared Ministries, and a 50-year member of Sotoyome Post 111 of the American Legion. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Sonoma County Taxpayers Association and the California State Rural Healthcare Association.
