Last spring, I read a BBC article on how time can pass quickly in lockdown. Now, nearly a year later, much of it seems to remain relevant. The author posited that circumstances have caused us to live more in the present, which I have also found to be exhausting at times. I hope everyone of you knows and feels appreciated for the joy and value you add to this world. Whether it’s a sentence, a thought, or a dramatic life change, please remember to keep the class in mind. We want to hear from you!
Dave and Teena Carroll continue to live and work in far Southwest Virginia. They are both educators and this year has been brutal. Teena's small liberal arts college gave her the option of transitioning her math classes to virtual instruction, which she has continued all through the 20-21 school year. Dave is a choir teacher. It's hard to express just how depressed the entire choral world is. Bright spots: Dave assisted in producing the Kokosing Farewell virtual choir video with fellow Chamber Singer alum Liam Davis ’90, which led to some fulfilling freelance work making virtual choirs at Christmas Time. Teena has had some very positive feedback from her students on her virtual teaching approach. Lucy (12) reads voraciously and has an amazing at-home pod of three other girls. Will (5) attends a tiny private school where they spend a lot of learning time outside and is obsessed with Pokemon. The household expanded this year by two pandemic puppies, Clio and Bramble, who are such escape artists that Fencing Supplies is the Carroll family’s biggest expense. The only trip in the last 12 months was in July spending a week with Dave's sister Diana Carroll '04 and her wife Sarah in Annapolis.
The past several months have been a whirlwind for Brian Mason. In November he was elected District Attorney of Colorado's 17th Judicial District, one of the largest judicial districts in the state. He took office in January and hasn't slept much since. It's a challenging, rewarding and all-consuming job, but he’s enjoying it. A huge THANK YOU to all Kenyon classmates, teachers and friends who helped him reach this goal. Brian has a picture of Old Kenyon in his new office and holds our college close to his heart. Feel free to follow him on twitter at @BrianMasonCO!
Virginia Secor Shaw resides in Charlotte, NC where there are apparently no other Lords or Ladies. None that she’s yet to find anyway. Please reach out if you are living in the area! She does manage to see Alex Mustonen Whelehan, Libby Stroyd Windsor and Tory Kirby as often as possible and hopes to see more Kenyon friends as soon as life returns to normal.
Ali (St Vincent) Von Kennel and Andy “VK” Von Kennel celebrated 20 years of marriage this August by renewing their wedding vows with their family and friends in Darien, CT. They are enjoying raising their two kids, Harry (15) and Anna (13), in CT despite their Ohio and Texas roots. The arrival of Kielty (Gallagher) Nivaud and her family to Westport, CT has been a fun Kenyon reconnection.
Shannon Conrad and Kate Masley organized a Class of '98 Philander's Phling Zoom Happy Hour for our classmates on Friday, February 26th. It was so much fun to see everyone! Thanks to all who attended--Bill Brody, Josh Coblyn, George Cook ’99, Julie Weber Eagen, Kate Snyder Howe, Michael Ann Jacobson, Jon Keeling, Jill Pitarresi Kitchen, Rob Kletzker, Becky Oathout Kloepfer, John Lawlor, John Lindsey, Carrie Wiltshire McCutcheon, Karen Babb McDonald, Nate McDonald, Doug McMillen, Kathryn Murchison, Giselle Milord Mylnek, Christine O’Neill, Christina Rimelspach, Frank Scalambrino, Sean Scarboro, Ian Schwab, Katie Varda Schwab ’99, Torsten Seifert, and Ryan Van Over. It lasted almost 6 hours with people popping in and out! Some highlights: Ryan Van Over aka "Fly Ry" played us a tune, Josh Coblyn joined us from Korea, Julie Weber Eagan has the funniest dog, John Lindsey said that he is coming to the next reunion (you are locked in now, John), Jill Pitarresi Kitchen has the coolest Middle Path tee, Giselle Milord Mlynek showed us her horse, Ian Schwab was sporting an awesome unicorn mask/hat, and John Lawlor might just be growing a mullet! If you weren't able to make it, no worries--we are planning to host another Zoom get together this May with the theme of "Summer Sendoff." Hope you can join us! The Zoom link and more info will be posted soon on our Class of '98 Facebook page. Take good care everyone!
Frank Scalambrino published a book with Bloomsbury and a chapter with Routledge. Here are the references: (2020). The Philosophy of Being in the Analytic, Continental, and Thomistic Traditions: Divergence & Dialogue. London: Bloomsbury & (2020). Ambivalence and the Borderline Position in the Existential-Phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty: Being and Having a Body-in-the-World from Primal Ambivalence to Intersubjective Ambiguity. In B. Brogaard and D.E. Gatzia, (Eds.). The Philosophy and Psychology of Ambivalence, (pp. 304-321). London: Routledge.
