Alden L. Senior: The family is healthy and doing well. Ben is attending his 2nd year at Syracuse virtually and has pivoted to studying political science. It's been hard for him to make films given all the restrictions in place. While the film festival that was showing his latest film ended up going virtual, he did win the Rising Star Film Maker Award. Amelia is finishing up high school virtually and looking at colleges. It's exciting to see her sort through all the schools to figure out where she wants to go. Thank goodness for Kristen ’91 who does this professionally! Topher is enjoying the VR system he got for his birthday. I think he's getting more exercise now than he did all summer. That's saying a lot since we got a huge inflatable pool for our backyard this summer and he was in there every other day.
Work for me has been much better the last few months. As a supplier to restaurants, we took a big hit in March, but the organization acted quickly and we were back on track by June. We're not out of the woods yet, but we're cautiously optimistic.
Kristen and I have missed going out on our regular date nights, but we've been able to find some fun alternatives. We've been doing virtual dinners, wine tastings, and game nights with other couples and have been able to get chefs and wine makers to join us. Still, we can't wait to start planning some trips again. We're already making a list!
Jacob Adler: My daughter has made the decision to follow in her father’s footsteps and attend Kenyon.
She’s eight.
I did not push her into this decision. In fact, all I told her was that we dined in a facility that looked a little like the Great Hall in the Harry Potter series.
But that was enough for her. Ever since I made the Harry Potter reference, she’s been determined to attend college at Kenyon. (Her mother still wants her to go to Harvard).
Lisa Busby: Hi friends! I am still enjoying (relatively speaking with global curveballs of 2020) life on the west coast with my family of four. Have been employed as a teacher and administrator in three independent schools in the Bay Area since 1995. Currently serving as board chair of Challenge Success, a Stanford-based organization focused on student health and well-being. A big thank you to the class of 1992 for making me laugh and cry with your endless sheltering-in-place/50th bday video "projects" since last March. Always treasure quality time hiking and sipping wine in rocking chairs with Kristin Fischer. Several hilarious Zoom calls with Jennifer Lightsey, Mimi Morris, Bettie Teasley, Mary Lord, and Kristin Fischer. One epic sidewalk jam with Josh Rupright and Al Kriney. Hope to see Franklin Staley and Josh Zuckerberg make their San Francisco cameos in 2021. Looking forward to picking up annual east coast visits with Stephanie Lynch Douglass, Gretchen Ayer ’93, Liz Klein, Tim Walker, Adrianne Feldman Kirszner and Elliott Maltby. I hope all of '92 is staying healthy and sane; feel free to drop a line when in the Bay Area.
Heather Peske: Thinking of Kenyon friends during this strange time. Working as Senior Associate Commissioner in the Center for Instructional Support at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Striving to support schools to provide students with the best learning possible, despite the many challenges right now.
Adrian Polit: Adrian and his seven-year-old daughter Marah live in Terre Haute ('Queen of the Wabash', stomping grounds of Larry Bird, a city hanging in there with light manufacturing, Indiana State, and Rose Hulman college). I work for the District 10 Pro Bono Project under grants to provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence and also free family law clinics to lower-income Hoosiers in three counties. I drove through Ohio around last Thanksgiving and felt the pull of the Kososing, but alas, the chains of time and schedule did not yield.
Ann Daniels Miller: Tim '91 and I are excited to announce our oldest daughter, Emily, was married on September 19, 2020. Having a Covid wedding was difficult, but it went so well. We enjoyed having Shawn Meyers '90, Tom Neal '90, Susan Miller Lloyd '84 and Sarah Lloyd '17 join the festivities. Son, Thomas, graduated from Muhlenberg College in May and youngest, Ellie, is a sophomore at Mercersburg Academy. We continue to run our dental office and preparing for retirement in a few years.
Mark Jordan: Still living in DC with wife, Sharon, and kids Lucy (16), Avery (13) and Will (3). Started a new job as a Senior Director with Gartner on 3/16 — the day offices closed globally. So I haven’t met any colleagues or clients in person! Life is good. Having fun watching Lucy’s college choice ideas evolve. Hoping Kenyon makes her list!
Evangeline “Vonnie” Lynn Calland: I continue to work as a Palliative Hospital Chaplain here in Charlottesville, where we have been weathering the COVID pandemic with increasing confidence. My interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare; and the role of intergenerational trauma in health and in grief and loss. I am grateful that I have a yard to work in and many outdoor trails to enjoy in my free time with my dogs. My kids, Will, 22, and Julia, 20, are adapting to the pandemic with as much grace as they can, given the changes to college and work routines. I have a partner who lives on the Western Slope of Colorado, and I spend as much time as I can in the amazing Rockies with him. Maybe life will converge in such a way that I can move there in the next year. My most ardent hope is that everyone will stay healthy and vote in November.
Jessica Lindgren: Peter continues to be very busy with his general pediatric practice, and has taken up cyclocross racing which involves dressing in spandex and racing around a closed course negotiating obstacles. I’m still happy managing our home-life here in Salt Lake City. Our daughter, Astrid, is a senior at the University of Utah where she’s majoring in Kinesiology and runs track and cross country for the “U.” Following in his sister’s footsteps, our son, Mats, is a freshman at the University of Utah. Despite fond memories of our alma mater, we’re thrilled that they have chosen to stay close to home and that we can continue to ski, bike, and just spend time with them.
Scott “Scooter” Jarrett: Dear Fantastic Class of '92, Thank you for your incredibly generous donations which have led to a bench dedicated in the memory of Aaron M. Dorfzaun. The gifts go toward The Kenyon Fund and the bench is located on Middle Path, just across from the Post Office and the new Village Market (wait, there’s a new Village Market?). It was fantastic to hear from so many classmates and to hear such sweet memories of Zahn. I think the bench location will be fitting for Zahn, who was a proud resident of Farr Hall our senior year. His room had roof access and we'd sometimes slip out there to set up the three-person water balloon launcher and fire 'em over toward Gund. Don't worry, we never hit anyone, but folks walking to and from Gund Dining Hall sure were surprised (apologies if we startled anyone). Ah, college shenanigans. Also, I have a funny memory of Zahn's father pulling up in a little red Mazda Miata right there in front of Farr Hall/the Bookstore - a graduation gift in May of 1992. Rest in peace, Zahn. We miss you.
I hope that everyone is doing well during these strange times. I've been fortunate to be able to get out for some frequent golf with my ol' Gund roomie, Devin Stauffer. We have a good time out there, though we are both probably too overly competitive. I guess Devin and I have been competing since we moved in during August of 1988 - I got there after him (no surprise!) and he had already taken the side of the room with the window.
I am teaching Digital Media at St. Andrew's Middle School in Austin, Texas - I like to joke that "Digital Media" is kind of a glorified way to say "Yearbook." It’s a bit more than that and it's an easy sell with the kids - computers and cameras, etc. Fun stuff. We are back to school in "pods," and while my son, Christopher, has moved on to the high school (which is on a different campus), I now cherish the treat of going to work every day with my daughter, Vanessa, who is in Kinder. I just need to now break the habit of stopping at the bakery, Milk & Cookies, which was a kind of bribe to ease her into in-person Kinder. Now she thinks that is just part of the norm. We have some funny conversations on the way to and from school. The other day, though, I was stunned that she did not think I could defeat The Rock in a hand-to-hand battle. Oh well.
All the best to everyone.
"Courage!" (Murray Horwitz ’70 from the 1992 Kenyon Commencement)
- Scooter
Jim Carlone: What an interesting school year it has been! Jim is in his 25th year teaching math at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. So far, we have been able to stay in school, wearing masks and social distancing at all times. I must say it is very surreal, but what we are doing seems to be working as we have not had any Covid spikes in our community. My son is now in 6th grade, and he has started at my school. I am very excited and proud to have him with me. I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe in these trying times.
