Kenyon Class of 1987 Fall Class Letter

Dear classmates,

Lately, I know it can seem like good news is in short supply. So as I sat down to write this class letter, and started to make a list of the many positive updates I had to share with you, I felt a welcome sense of gratitude for our alma mater. Even during the most challenging of years, Kenyon has remained a bright spot and a point of connection and positivity for its community.

In-person instruction just wrapped up for the approximately 950 first-years, sophomores and international students who studied on campus this fall, numbers intentionally kept low so no one would share a room. (Yes, it took a pandemic for a freshman to score a North Campus Apartment for one.) The College developed clear COVID-related policies and protocols that included regular testing for those on campus and the implementation of the “Kenyon College Commitment,” a personal pledge developed in cooperation with the student council that emphasized the well-being of the entire community. Life on campus looked a bit different as Kenyon adapted its many facilities to ensure safe access to dining, athletics, research and more.

In addition to adaptations for on-campus instruction, juniors and seniors and members of the faculty discovered new ways to learn and teach remotely. (Yes, it took a pandemic to make sweatpants acceptable classroom attire for even the professors.) Check out our new faculty notes section to hear how your favorite faculty members dealt with the shift to Zoom classes, virtual office hours and online assignments.

Our alumni community has shifted to meet the challenges of 2020 with an equal degree of innovation — organizing and attending virtual events, connecting with current students and new graduates as volunteer mentors, and giving back during June’s record-breaking online giving challenge, Kenyon Together. And, though it was heartbreaking to see Reunion Weekend 2020 postponed, we’ve shifted our focus to Reunion Weekend 2021. Planning is underway and, if conditions allow, it could be the biggest alumni gathering in Kenyon history! (We’ll be sharing more details in the months to come, as all alumni will be invited back for the festivities.)

Yes, good things are happening at Kenyon and that is why I support it year after year with a gift to the Kenyon Fund — to keep the good news coming. I give to bolster the student emergency assistance fund, which helped dozens of students get home when the spring semester unexpectedly went virtual.

I give to make it possible for the College to award more in financial aid this year, when many families’ budgets are strained. And I give to help fund new scholarships like the Kenyon Women’s Annual Scholarship and the Lowry Annual Scholarship for underrepresented students, which was announced just last month along with the renaming of the Kenyon Athletic Center to honor Emeritus Trustee William E. Lowry Jr. ’56 H’99. Scroll on for full details on this exciting piece of Kenyon news!

During challenging times like these, alumni support is more critical than ever. Join me in making your gift to the Kenyon Fund at gift.kenyon.edu to ensure good things continue to happen on the Hill this year, and in the years to come.

Thank you and stay well!

Sincerely,

Dave Hanson and David Rosenthal

P.S. Scroll down to read our fall class notes.

Introducing the Lowry Center & Scholarship

William E. Lowry Jr. ’56 H’99 was the first Black student in the nation initiated into Beta Theta Pi, was student body president and captained the football, basketball and baseball teams. He went on to serve in many volunteer roles at Kenyon, including as trustee. In honor of Bill’s accomplishments and impact at Kenyon, the Board of Trustees decided to rename the Kenyon Athletic Center in his honor.

Recognizing his legacy, Board Vice Chair Joseph E. Lipscomb ’87 has created an endowed scholarship in Bill’s name to help bring more underrepresented students to Kenyon. Anyone can make a gift to the annual fund portion of this scholarship, or one of many other scholarships at Kenyon, and provide an immediate benefit to a current student.

Support currents students now with a gift to scholarships

Despite a challenging year, the College remains committed to continuing to meet 100% of students’ increased demonstrated need, with donor support. Every dollar you give goes directly to support students this academic year.

Consider giving today in support of:

Hannah More Scholarship for first generation students
Kenyon Women’s Annual Scholarship for female students
Lowry Annual Scholarship for underrepresented students
Pope Memorial Annual Scholarship for students from urban Ohio public school

And, of course, you can make a gift to the Kenyon Fund’s scholarships and financial aid designation, which supports the education of every single Kenyon student.

Make a Gift

Upcoming Virtual Events for Alumni

You're invited to join us this winter at these free events for alumni.

Alumni Town Halls with President Decatur
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. ET and Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. ET
Five-week mini class with Professor Emerita Pam Jensen
"Democracy & Education: An Introduction to Rousseau's Emile"
Tuesdays, Jan. 5 – Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. ET
A Celebration of Kenyon Green Initiatives (two-part series)
Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. ET

Visit kenyon.edu/alumnievents to register and view our full alumni event calendar.

Class of 1987 Fall Notes

Peter Luther: I retired from full-time work a year ago after selling my company to Nestle. Cycling and golfing a lot and doing some part time advisory work with a private equity firm. Splitting time between Princeton, NJ and Kiawah Island, SC - if anyone is in the area drop a line. Got a chance to play some golf with Tim Ehrhart this past summer (roommate at Kenyon and class of ‘87).

Toddie Downs (Soule): Toddie Soule Downs has been weathering the pandemic and general apocalypse by learning new gin recipes and writing songs. And figuring there is literally nothing to lose, she has recorded some of them and will be releasing them soon (probably on Bandcamp), so watch this space for further information!

Allan Maca: Hi everyone! I’m hosting the National Geographic series Ancient China from Above. Please check it out! Episodes (x3) premiered in August worldwide and are now streamable/downloadable. We spent 40 days criss-crossing China; it was a joint effort with Chinese scientists so we had incredible access. I hope you’ll enjoy the show; let me know what you think!

Stephanie Abbajay: Hi everyone! Things are good here in Illinois. Our company, David Stine Furniture, is doing very well, fueled no doubt by the fact that everyone is probably sick of their household furniture and wants a change. In early 2020, we expanded quite a bit: We opened a new, larger wood shop and show room; we introduced a new line of furniture; and we opened a new business, Midwest Slabs & Hardwood, to sell our sustainably harvested lumber directly to the public. It’s been easy to stay socially distanced out here at the farm, where we pretty much work seven days a week. I’m not complaining, mind you! We are immensely grateful to be busy during these crazy times. Our son, Oskar, is a junior at Columbia College in Chicago, where he is majoring in Fashion Design. Our daughter, Willa, is a junior in high school, where she is stressing out about the ACT, SAT, and all things related to getting that GPA up so she can apply to colleges next year. Sending best wishes to all my classmates! Stay well everyone!

Beth Dreyfuss (Welty): I am surviving COVID with lots of long ocean swims since most of the pools are closed. I have had several good dolphin encounters!

Genevieve Bates: Hello! Lots to tell! Still in the wonderful state of Ohio! Columbus is finding ways to keep life interactive. Aunce travel is limited, we are rebuilding house and redesigning yard. It’s rewarding. Putting in some lovely big trees. Training 2 new German Sheppards. That’s a journey! Engaged now to a fellow Kenyon classmate class of 1986. He and I previously shared a dorm for a year, but late in life, realized we are madly in love! I feel like the Princess Bride! Finally found my Wesley- -and he was waiting for me from Kenyon all these years.

Emily Grandinetta (King): Recently left Accenture and thrilled to be flying solo once again with a thriving coaching practice! Ninja skill: performance turn-around with low-performing teams and individuals. Finally leaving DC, heading to PA with LOML Rich and other LOLM Leia the morkie. I always love hearing from Kenyon friends and my bestie is still Jan (Dorsett) Bayer!

Lilly Goren: I hope you are well. I got nothing. We are all just trying to stay alive. Take care.

Read notes from the Class of 1986 and the Class of 1988.

New this year! Read notes from faculty.

Support Kenyon

If you missed the chance to share your news for this letter, you can submit a class note at any time via class.letters@kenyon.edu.

Class Listing

Kenyon is grateful to the following donors for their generous support of the College, including the Kenyon Fund, during the 2019-20 fiscal year. An asterisk (*) indicates a donor is a member of the Henry J. Abraham Society for loyal and consecutive giving. An obelisk (†) indicates an individual who is deceased. Please note that as of July 1, 2019 Kenyon’s annual giving societies have changed. Visit kenyon.edu/societies for more information.

1987

Annual Fund Total: $107,046

Class Participation: 29.14%

President's Society

Donors of $50,000 or more

Colleen R. Siders Eaton*

Kokosing Society

Donors of $25,000 to $49,999

Joseph E. Lipscomb P'19*

Craig A. Phares*

Katherine T. Stautberg P'23*

Philander Chase Society

Donors of $10,000 to $24,999

Sara Clayton Meyers*

Harriet Stern*

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

Geoffrey S. Bennett P'22 '20*

Charles R. Cowap V

Cynthia Decker Bennett P'22 '20*

Gerald J. Gardner

John K. Guenther

Lawrence E. Kohn*

Katherine E. Lewis*

Rachel L. Rawson

Beth Welty Dreyfuss*

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Stephanie L. Abbajay

Earl W. Adams III*

Dana E. Baker-Williams P'22*

Susan Baum Finizio*

Scott C. Bennington*

James D. P. Bishop III

Christine Boyle*

Catherine Brill P'19

Richard D. Brown MD*

Steven O. Cummins*

John Danbury*

A. Elizabeth Danbury*

Ann C. Davies*

Linda Djerejian Eigeman*

G. Todd Downs*

Paul M. Duling*

Christopher J. Eigeman*

Wendy R. Enelow*

Elizabeth J. Erb*

Barbara J. Evans*

Mary F. Farnsworth*

David M. Farnsworth

Henry D. Felton V

Nicholas C. Franco

James A. Freiberg P'16 '20*

Carolyn Ginsberg Durcan P'24*

Lilly J. Goren

Jessica Greenstein*

Charles J. Griffin III*

Tara L. Griffin*

Amy F. Guy*

David F. Hanson*

Heather Harris Freiberg P'16 '20*

Robert A. Harris

Roxanne Hino*

Jane Hubbard Martin P'20*

Melissa N. Hutchison MD*

Ronald S. Hutchison PhD*

Robert G. Ix

Philip D. Junglas

M. Rebecca Kilburn*

John K. Kirk

Edward F. Levitas

Stephen A. McCoy P'17*

Gretchen McGowan

Arthur S. Miller

Paul W. Muller

James B. Norton

Thomas A. Palmer*

Gregory W. Perkins

Katharine C. Purcell*

Karen L. Redfearn*

Robert A. Rikhoff

Cornelia W. Roche

David H. Rosenthal*

Lynne E. Rowe

Brigitte Schattenfield*

Lisa Sell*

Scott T. Shearer

Lawrence S. Shipman

Adam C. Smith*

Diana M. Smith*

James K. Sokol*

Cable A. Steinemann*

Caroline Stirn Crane*

Carolyn B. Streett*

Michael W. Streett*

Lavinia M. True-Raffoul*

Timothy Williams

Karrie Wilson Weinhardt

Denise R. Winter

Martha Young Freedberg

George Wharton Mariott Society

These alumni have included Kenyon in their estate plans or have made other planned gifts.

Barbara J. Evans