Glen Donald Kahrman, a dedicated public health advocate, passed away on August 21, 2026 at the age of 82. Born and raised in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Glen served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam war before moving to Nashville, Dallas, and finally settling in New Orleans, where he met the love of his life while bowling with the Kocktail Bunch Bowling League, Noel John Twilbeck, Jr., with whom he shared 37 years of committed partnership and 16 years of (legal) marriage.
An early warrior in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Glen was among the pioneers who traveled to Mexico to procure the first effective anti-retroviral medications used to treat HIV and AIDS before they became available in the United States. His courageous efforts helped prolong and save the lives of many in New Orleans’ gay community.
Glen served on the Board of Directors of the NO/AIDS Task Force, a trailblazing organization that has provided vital services and support for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS for over 40 years, now a federally qualified community health center called CrescentCare. He also served on the boards of Belle Reve, a nonprofit assisted living facility serving people with HIV/AIDS, and the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, where he sang in the Flaming Chalice Choir. Glen co-chaired the first NO/AIDS Walk with dear friend Dave Moynan in 1990, which raised millions of dollars for the NO/AIDS Task Force’s programs and services over the following two decades. Glen was honored to serve as a co-grand marshal of the 18th Gay Easter Parade in 2017, an event that has raised nearly $400,000 since its inception for the NO/AIDS Task Force’s Food for Friends Program. He is remembered as being especially dapper in his blue seersucker suit, donning a straw fedora, and proudly representing Food For Friends. After some years in retail sales, Glen served as the Food For Friends program manager, focusing on program quality, fundraising, and providing 14 delicious, nutritious meals each week to hundreds of individuals living with HIV who were homebound or requiring nutritional support. He retired in 2016 after 12 years of service.
Glen was predeceased by his parents, Barbara and Donald Kahrman, and his twin brother, Gary Kahrman (Carol “Pinky” Kahrman). He is survived by his husband, Noel Twilbeck, Jr., his sister Virginia “Ginny” Keddy (Raymond Keddy), and his brother, Neil Kahrman. He also leaves to cherish his memory his beloved aunt, Charlotte Pauzé, godsons Raymond Keddy, Jr. and Ryan Schwing, in-laws Angela Hurley (Len Hurley), Jacqueline Millon (Chris Michel), Jodi Schwing (Baron Schwing), Richard Lenzen (Kathy Lenzen), as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and his puppies, Sadie and Lil’Bit, all of whom brought great joy to his life.
Glen was known as a wonderfully kind, elegant man who loved all things sweet, especially family, friends, ice cream and strawberry-rhubarb pie.
We are grateful for the love and care given by the staffs of the West Jefferson and New Orleans Veterans Administration medical centers, Larry Adcock, Dr. Owen Mogabgab, Fabiolia Funez, and his First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans family.
The family is planning a vibrant and colorful “Celebration of Glen’s Life, Love, and Laughter” on Saturday, October 3, 2026 that reflects Glen’s energy and spirit. Visitation is from 10am – 12 noon at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, followed by the Celebration in the Lake Lawn Metairie Chapel at noon. Photographs and stories of Glen’s life, love, and laughter are encouraged. Interment will follow at Metairie Cemetery. To view and sign the family online guestbook and share your memories of Glen, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com
In lieu of flowers and to honor Glen’s legacy, the family is encouraging donations to Food For Friends – a program of NO/AIDS Task Force, d.b.a. CrescentCare Community Health Center.
CrescentCare
1631 Elysian Fields Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70117
