Frank Kohout

FRANK KOHOUT

Iowa City

Dr. Frank Kohout, 78, died at his home in Iowa City on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. A celebration of his life will be announced later.

Frank was born in Euclid, Ohio, on Jan. 26, 1938, to Frank and Lucy Kohout. He attended Ohio State University and transferred to and graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1963, with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology. Frank earned a master's degree in 1965 and a Doctor of Philosophy in sociology in 1970 from Case Western Reserve University. He met and married Margaret "Margie" Fuller on Aug. 18, 1962. Their first daughter, Linda, was born in late December 1965.

Frank and family moved to Iowa City just before the birth of his second daughter, Susan, in October 1969. Frank had accepted a position at the University of Iowa in the department of sociology as a lecturer. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1972. Frank hosted many football recruits; later he served on and chaired the University of Iowa Board in Control of Athletics. During his tenure, the board hired Hayden Fry.

In 1973, Frank shifted to health sciences with a position in the College of Medicine Department of Family Practice. He was director of the Center for Research in Interpersonal Behavior from 1970 to 1980. He consulted in the areas of social psychology, research methodology and applied statistics, medical sociology and gerontology, consumer behavior, and the sociology of science and technology. His collaboration with faculty throughout the university resulted in numerous research publications. Frank's prolific publications included two books, 53 refereed papers, 11 chapters and 47 abstracts.

In 1981, Frank accepted a position as associate professor in the College of Dentistry. He was promoted to full professor in 1988. Frank taught statistics to the residents and graduate students using his textbook. Frank played a significant role on many successful grant proposals to the National Institutes for Dental Research (NIDR). Frank retired from the University of Iowa in 2000.

Frank was a member of the American Sociological Association, Midwest Sociological Society, Society for the Study of Social Problems and Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction. He also was a member of the American and International Association of Dental Research. Frank was a member of Rotary International for several years.

Frank was a very sociable person. He and Margie gave pregame parties at their home in University Heights that were legendary. Frank was a wonderful raconteur and knowledgeable on many topics.

Frank was devastated when Margie died in 1999. They enjoyed traveling to Italy and Greece, which turned into a passion for studying ancient cultures. Frank began an unofficial association with the classics department. He met his second wife, Nancy Barnes, on one of his trips to Greece and Egypt. The couple later divorced.

Frank was immensely proud of his daughters, Linda and Susan. Susan recently returned to Iowa City to help Frank. Linda currently lives in Austin, Texas.

Frank will be missed by his daughters and other family members, including his sister, Joan Tiernan, and brother, John Kohout, of the Cleveland, Ohio, area and Margie's sister and brother-in-law, Ginny and Bob Istnick of Frankfort, Mich.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the University of Iowa Classics Department.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.