Kelly Bielen married Patrick Mackinnon in Arlington, VA on October 23, 2020. Several Kenyon alums were in attendance via Zoom including Lauren Newland, Delia Turner Crawford '08, Adam Leverone '08, Aileen Caldwell '09, Laura DiNardo '10, Jean Turner '10, Emilia Birdsall '11 and Kelly McPharlin '12. Kelly is working as a Public Affairs Manager at the Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington, D.C. along with fellow Kenyon alums Kelly McPharlin and Lori Brady '92.
Carly (Baird) Deal shares, “Time to get back to our roots and you're all invited!
It has been 14 years for me, and 16 years for Dave Deal '05 since we have been able to call rural Ohio home. From 7 years of city living in Pittsburgh PA to 8 years of suburban living in Upper Arlington Ohio, we've decided to pack up our three boys: Everett (8), Carver (5) and Brooks (4), and head to the country.
We're heading 35 miles South of Columbus to a Farmhouse built in 1810, located on the outskirts of the Hocking Hills. We have high hopes for our land and look forward to raising our kids in the rural landscapes surrounding us.
We truly want our home to be a place where anyone can come take a deep breath and get away. Drop us a note at thebrothersdeal@gmail.com - we hope to see you soon!”
Lauren Katz shares, “I have been living in Chicago since 2008 and purchased my first home here in 2019. I have been a social worker working in healthcare and community settings with children and families since 2012 and am currently at a youth social circus (still learning how to juggle!). I became an aunt in November 2020 and was grateful to be able to spend January 2021 with my sister, brother-in-law, mother, and new nephew in California. I drove across the country twice with my senior miniature schnauzer, Betsy, and spent as much time outdoors as possible in anticipation of Chicago's cold and snowy February. Wishing everyone health, connection, and strength as we reflect on how the pandemic has shaped our lives this past year.”
Brendan McCarthy and Colby Bishop had a beautiful baby girl in November. Brendan is already teaching baby Kit some Kenyon traditions so she’ll be ready when she strides down Middle Path for class 18 years from now.
Sarah (Goldstein) Pekdemir shares, “Like many, we were displaced by COVID-19, moving from Brooklyn, NYC to Asheville, NC with 24 hours prep, a trunk full of clothes, and a brand new 2 month old in a brand new car seat. A year later finds Ahmet Kemal a healthy, chunky 13 month old who loves to be strolled through the Blue Ridge Mountains and dance to Raffi. My partner Isa (a native of Istanbul) has (mostly) enjoyed acclimating to his first ever "rural" home. I have been working in that home which I (mostly) love (what a boon while nursing!). Mainly, I daydream of the days when both parenting and pandemic will allow me to return to my true loves of contra dancing, solo travel, and foodie adventuring...”
Stu Schisgall shares, “Stephanie and I are so excited to announce the arrival of our daughter, Julia Tamar Schisgall. Julia was born in late December, is doing excellent, and is very cute. My SEO company, Searics, continues to get business even during the pandemic (thankfully), and I've been doing SEO for Discover Financial Services for the past couple years. We've been hunkering down as a family and look forward to hitting the road as soon as it's safe to travel again.”
Spencer Silverthorne shares, “I am surviving the pandemic as a grad student (again!) in Lafayette, LA. I pass the time observing rogue chickens and roosters that fly into a giant cypress that’s in my yard. They crow at all hours. This past year I’ve had poems published in Always Crashing, Blue Earth Review, Dream Pop Journal, and Landfill Journal. I hope I publish a book one day. Once it’s safe to travel, I would love to host visitors! I’m sure the chickens and roosters will put on a show.”
Lilly Stolper shares, “I’ve continued my work as a Nurse Practitioner in a community Emergency Department in MA. From unprecedented low patient volumes in April and May, when hours and pay got cut (and I was lucky to keep my job, unlike many other healthcare professionals), to the "Covid Crush" in January, when we were creating new beds against every wall and in every corner to try to accommodate the tsunami of patients pouring through our doors, these past 12 months have been quite a ride. I'm immensely grateful for the truly astounding scientific work that has provided us with an array of fantastic vaccines, and I'm keeping my eye on the light at the end of the tunnel, when hopefully I'll be able to take off at least some of these layers of PPE!”
Anneka Ward, B.S.N, R.N. and her wonderful husband Jonathan Cohen married outdoors in Lakeville, CT August 8, 2020 surrounded by family and close friends. Meredith O'Connor was Anneka's maid of honor. On Feb 28, 2021, Anneka and Jonathan welcomed their healthy, beautiful son, Thomas Andrew Cohen into the world. All are resting at home and soaking in all of the joys of new parenthood. Anneka works as a school nurse at ECFS and Jonathan works as a high school physics teacher at H.E.R.O. High school, a NYCDOE school.
