Kenyon Classes of 1942-52 Fall Class Letter

Dear gentlemen,

Lately, I know it can seem like good news is in short supply. So as we at Kenyon sat down to write this class letter, and started to make a list of the many positive updates we had to share with you, I felt a welcome sense of gratitude for your 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.)

The 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 alumni gifts to the Kenyon Fund are critical year after year — to keep the good news coming. Consider making a gift to bolster the student emergency assistance fund, which helped dozens of students get home when the spring semester unexpectedly went virtual. Or give to make it possible for the College to award more in financial aid this year, when many families’ budgets are strained. Or 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. Look below for full details on this exciting piece of Kenyon news.

During challenging times like these, alumni support is more critical than ever. Please consider making your gift to the Kenyon Fund today 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,

Terry Dunnavant

Office of Alumni and Annual Giving

Kenyon College

P.S. Scroll down to read the 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.

Classes of 1942-52 Fall Notes

Ira Eliasoph ’48: It is not often that I am asked where I went to college, but I always answer with great pride that I went to Kenyon College. I have vivid wonderful memories and in a box some memorabilia. I am not famous, but did have pictures of me (in the Navy-for a rescue at sea) on the front page of the New York Sunday News in February of 1955. I was a founder of the Archon Society whose name I provided as well as its motto "Esse Quam Videre". I choreographed the fencing scene in the Kenyon Production of Hamlet and the following year appeared with Paul Newman ’49 in Taming of the Shrew. My voice was the first broadcast from "WKCG Gambier, Ohio, the Voice of Kenyon College". I closed my practice of Ophthalmology after 50 years, having taught every resident at Mount Sinai Hospital since 1957, as well as lectures in the nursing school for many years. I still serve at the VA Hospital and play tennis. The momentous end of World War II was the summer I started at Kenyon, greeted with great joy by Gordon Keith Chalmers, College President. Good luck to all.

Bruce Hartmann ’52: My wife and I are OK living in a comfortable assisted living apartment. Out of touch with Kenyon friends.

Peter Voss ’52: Mr. Voss has been chief operating officer of Midland Engineering and was recently named President and Chairman. Midland, a diversified engineering company has offices in New York, Chicago, Birmingham Ala., Windsor and Toronto, Canada.

Read notes from the Classes of 1953-54.

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.

Pre-1950 Legacy Classes

Annual Fund Total: $28,617

Class Participation: 46.43%

1942

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

Robert J. Cahall*

1944

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Davy H. McCall †*

1945

President's Society

Donors of $50,000 or more

Harold B. Doremus †

1946

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

James C. Niederman MD P'76 H'81*

1947

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Margaret Dury (widow of Joseph D. Dury Jr. '47)

George G. Leist †

1948

Philander Chase Society

Donors of $10,000 to $24,999

Henry J. Abraham† P'79 '84 H'72*

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Richard E. Karkow P'79*

The Rev. Milton Saville †*

1949

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Joan Read † (widow of Thomas A. Read '49)*

Richard S. Bower †*

Bernard S. Hoyt DO P'81*

Daniel P. Dunlap*

Bernard Futter

George Wharton Mariott Society

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

Mr.† and Mrs. Benjamin A. Park

James† and Patrice Paton III

Harold B. Doremus †

David P. Harris †

Henry J. Abraham P'79, 84 †

Charles† L. Barr, Jr. and Margo Barr

Stewart E. and Victoria W. Perry

Bruce P. Bell P'74

Willis S. Hough†

Mr.† and Mrs. Thomas A. Read†

1950

Annual Fund Total: $20,172

Class Participation: 54.55%

President's Society

Donors of $50,000 or more

Donald J. Thompson †

Philander Chase Society

Donors of $10,000 to $24,999

Carl J. Himmelsbach †

George Labalme Jr. †*

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

Fredrick J. Holdridge †*

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Thomas J. Davis Jr.*

Lloyd C. Hood

Theodore D. Jennings*

Henry W. Kunhardt GP'23

Zoe McFarland (widow of Robert B. McFarland MD '50)*

Clyde W. Pinkley*

William H. Schneebeck P'88*

Charles L. Thomas Jr.*

George Wharton Mariott Society

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

Randolph D. Bucey

Henry W. Kunhardt

Philip S. Tedesco

Charles L. Thomas Jr.

1951

Annual Fund Total: $3,525

Class Participation: 46.67%

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

The Rev. Keith D. Briggs*

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Wayne D. Bailey*

Patricia Belt (widow of Robert K. Belt Jr. '51)*

Ross B. Haskell*

James J. Lynch P'77*

Myron C. Schiffer*

Alan D. Wright Esq.*

George Wharton Mariott Society

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

Mr.† and Mrs. Robert K. Belt

Keith D. Briggs

Mr.† and Mrs. Thomas E. Davidson

Donald H. Gillis

Myron C. Schiffer

1952

Annual Fund Total: $35,102

Class Participation: 68.42%

Kokosing Society

Donors of $25,000 to $49,999

Richard L. Francis † *

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Allen B. Ballard Jr. H'04*

C. T. Bundy 2d*

Gail Graham (widow of H. James Graham '52) *

G. Bruce Hartmann*

Robert L. Hesse*

John E. McKune P'84*

Martin J. Nemer PhD H'77*

Richard D. Sawyer*

Charles P. Tranfield P'81

Peter E. Voss P'88 '90*

George Wharton Mariott Society

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

I. Willard Abrahams P'79

Silas† and Patricia Axtell

C. T. Bundy 2d

Robert L. Hesse

Mr. and Mrs. Leighton B. McLaughlin

Richard D. Sawyer

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