Kenyon Class of 1965 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.)

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, including those of us celebrating a post-50th reunion.)

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. See below 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,

Tom Sant

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 1965 Fall Notes

James Williams: Retirement has been boring so I got a couple of jobs and work as a consultant to a plasmapheresis company and a drug testing laboratory. I still sing in the car and shower but nowhere else. I walk some but miss the activity of football in the fall and lacrosse in the spring; but alas these metal knees and shoulders and my fibrillating atrium do not allow me to participate. I am fortunate to still be breathing and upright and wish the best to my Kenyon friends of so many years ago.

Robert A. Legg: Janie and I celebrated our 51st anniversary in September but not on a cruise ship as had been scheduled. Although Georgia is not one of the states that seems to take Covid-19 as seriously as recommended, we are trying to follow guidelines and stay well. Come February, if all goes well, we will be moving to a Continuing Care Retirement Center in Athens.

A significant highlight since last issue was participating in a Happy 93rd Birthday Zoom call to Coach Bob Harrison last August. He looked and sounded great and it was apparent how much he cherished his years at Kenyon.

Fred McGavran: I went back to work two days a week as a full time chaplain at Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Community in Cincinnati after the regular chaplain decided to move his ministry to another retirement center for six months. So far the shock of getting up at 6:15 AM has been tolerable, but a full week of this would not. To my great delight I have re-established contact with classmate Burt Hurwitz and friend David Gaunt ’64. It's amazing and gratifying to see what interesting lives our classmates and friends have enjoyed.

Rick Peters: I retired in 2009 from active ministry as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA, but returned this year, a decade later, to temporarily assist a nearby congregation during 2019-2020, then re-retired in September. This marks my 46th year living in Michigan, but still return occasionally to my roots in Pittsburgh. My two daughters have graced me with four grandchildren, age 10 through 15. Life is good and I am very grateful! I especially send my best wishes to Phi Kappa Sigma's class of '65 with memories of North Hanna Hall and its Theta chapter.

John K.Stamer: Our children are grown and Shari and I have been enjoying our retirement.

Read notes from the Class of 1964 and the Class of 1966.

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.

1965

Annual Fund Total: $54,225

Class Participation: 46.99%

President's Society

Donors of $50,000 or more

John Schofield*

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

Heidi Gerster (widow of Isaac M. Kikawada '65)*

Robert A. Legg*

Thomas R. Sant H'13*

Douglas H. Stevens P'89*

David C. Thomas*

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

James E. Annable Jr. H'90*

Jeffrey M. Arnold*

The Rev. James E. Baltzell III*

Daniel B. Boylan*

John V. Cuff III, MD*

G. Blair Ferguson*

Robin F. Goldsmith*

Edward G. Heimerdinger*

Peter E. Hewitt*

Peter G. Jessup*

George E. Johnson

Gary E. Kaltenbach*

John E. Kooistra*

Arthur E. Kronenberg Jr.*

David L. Langston*

Gene E. Little*

M. Salim Lone

David Long

Frederick J. McGavran P'03*

Peter W. Mullett*

Edward W. Pettigrew P'96*

Richard L. Ray MD

Irwin F. Roth*

Victor B. Schwartz*

Sylvan Seidenman*

M. James Spitzer Jr.*

John E. Sprague P'96*

John K. Stamer*

William E. Sweeney*

Ford Tucker II P'95*

Alex Valchuk*

Paul B. Zuydhoek

George Wharton Mariott Society

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

James and Susan Annable

David F. Banks P'96

Michael H. Glogower

John S. Kerr †

Robert A. Legg

Gene E. Little

William D. Love

C. Ronald McSwiney

James L. Miller

Thomas R. Sant

John Schofield

Sylvan Seidenman

Mr. and Mrs. Alex Valchuk