Founder of Massapequa Post Newspaper, Barbara Cahn, dies in Florida
In 1947, a few weeks after moving into their rental home in a new veteran-oriented community on Long Island, Mrs. Cahn and her late husband, Ira L. Cahn, founded the Island Trees Eagle. As co-editor and Publisher, Mrs. Cahn handled the editorial and news side of the operation, at first from the kitchen table of their modest cape cod home. Shortly thereafter, the Cahns proposed that the community be named Levittown in honor of the family that built the homes and changed the newspaper’s name to the Levittown Eagle. Within a few years, the paper had grown along with the community and was winning state and national awards for best editorial page, community service, and general excellence.
The Cahns founded a second newspaper, the Massapequa Post, in 1951, and some years later closed the Eagle to concentrate on the newer venture. Once again, Mrs. Cahn was responsible for the news content, covered the activities of three local school boards, and wrote most of the editorials. The Cahns later bought the Amityville Record and published the two papers until their retirement to Florida in the mid-1980s. Ira Cahn died in 1988.
A hard-hitting journalist, Mrs. Cahn didn’t shy away from reporting and commenting on controversial issues. While her editorials gave praise when it was due, she never hesitated to criticize government officials, regardless of party, for failing to serve their community. She preferred, however, to remain in the background, often accepting praise on behalf of her husband for editorials she herself had written.
During the Cahn’s ownership, the Post won more than 100 journalism awards from the New York Press Association, the National Newspaper Association, and other professional organizations. In 1969, for example, that year’s annual Teen Edition, which Mrs. Cahn produced, won first place in both the state and national contests.
In 1976, Mrs. Cahn retired from her active operational involvement with the newspapers. She subsequently served for 10 years as Coordinator of Community Information for the Valley Stream Central High School District.
Mrs. Cahn remained an active journalist, even after her retirement. At the age of 73 she learned desktop publishing and for several years produced an award-winning newsletter for her local chapter of the American Association of University Women in Stuart, Florida.
The holder of a Master’s degree in Economics from Brooklyn College, Mrs. Cahn is survived by her sons David L. Cahn of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Michael D. Cahn of Rancho Cucamonga, California, five grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
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