Walt “Papa” Kuhn passed away on January 2, 2012.
Services will be held in Naperville, Illinois – a wake on Sunday to be held at Frederick Jones Funeral Home, Naperville and a Mass on Monday at St. Peter and Paul Church, 36 N. Elsworth, Naperville.
In 2005 Walt was honored at the Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame with the Philip Iglehart award for outstanding lifetime contributions to the sport.
Walt “Papa” Kuhn contributed a lifetime of devotion to the sport of polo through his longstanding efforts as a mentor of numerous players who sought his training and guidance in learning how to play the game of polo. For 30 years, his Fairlane Farms locations in both Illinois and Florida allowed many players a simple and affordable way to become part of the polo world. He is credited with starting the youth polo tournament at Palm Beach Polo & Country Club and the original Carlos Avendano tournament. Along with his wife, Shirley, and his three polo-playing sons, and the sacrifices of a non-polo playing sister and fourth brother, Walt built a fine family reputation for training people from all walks of life without regard for money or prestige. Always a presence fieldside in matches both high- and low-goal, Walt continued to encourage new generations of players with his infectious laugh and hearty smile.