| Kenyon Class of 1972 Spring Class Letter
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Dear Class of 1972,
This is the first of several letters you will receive from the newly-minted “Communications and Engagement Subcommittee” over the next 12 months, culminating in the Kenyon Class of 1972 50th Reunion in Gambier, May 26-29, 2022. Our class will be the first to fully plan this landmark reunion using a new 50th Reunion model developed last fall by alumni office staff in collaboration with representatives of the Class of 1972 and of a few other adjacent classes. We have much more to report about that process below.
We’ve learned through the years these class letters are much more engaging when many voices are represented, and our Communications Subcommittee intends to adhere to that winning formula, beginning with some news from the Hill. Our alumni office sources in Gambier report:
After a year that felt like a decade, we are filled with hope and optimism as we head into the warmer months. As of mid-April, roughly one-quarter of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and life feels like it is inching back to “normal.”
Kenyon is also planning its return to normal operations, including having all four classes back on campus in the fall. And, due in no small part to our alumni support, the College is wrapping up a financially and logistically challenging year on track to balance the budget, just as we have the past 50 years!
After receiving a record number of applications, Kenyon has enrolled an academically stellar and diverse Class of 2025. And a stunning new Chalmers Library will be open to greet them when they move in.
In January, Kenyon received the largest gift in its history that will fund the construction of three new South Campus residence halls, allowing the College to increase focus on growing resources for scholarships. It is in this area that the College intends to focus its development efforts with your class, and the entirety of the Kenyon family. The success of the next phase of the campaign, Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial, relies on increased participation and support of scholarships to make a Kenyon education accessible to any able student.
As you may have heard, reunion is going virtual this year. The College is hosting two weeks of online programming from May 16-29 and most events are open to all alumni. Even though we aren’t celebrating a reunion on campus this year, we encourage you to register for events featuring some of your favorite professors, and to reminisce with classmates at online social gatherings. We are hoping to include a virtual tour of the new Chalmers Library in the online celebration as well.
Rest assured, we are doing everything in our power to assure that your Class of 1972 50th reunion, one year from now, will be a memorable on-campus event as in years past.
Co-Reunion Chair Nancy Ellis (with Doug Holbrook and Tom Moore) was among those alumni representatives, who met virtually last fall with Kenyon staff to create a new model for planning and executing successful 50th class reunions. She was pleased to contribute the following insights on that process and how she, Doug and Tom already have the wheels in motion for our reunion. From Nancy:
More than 20 of our classmates are involved in our 50th reunion planning effort and all are invited to join us. Doug Holbrook, Tom Moore, and I are reunion co-chairs, and we have great leadership for each of our three subcommittees in Sam and Paula Barone (Communication and Engagement); Jeff Newton (Fundraising and Participation); and Kevin Horrigan (Reunion Weekend Social planning).
By way of background on the new 50th Reunion Program, about a year ago Kenyon’s administration committed to maximizing the 50th reunion experience for alumni. They researched best practices at peer schools with the objective of imagining a unique 50th Reunion Program — both virtual and in-person—brimming with opportunities to renew and strengthen alumni connections to classmates and to Kenyon itself.
Last fall, our new 50th Reunion Program Director, Shayna Daubert, brought together a focus group of alumni, all of whom were at or nearing their 50th reunions. Susan McGannon, Tom Moore, and I represented ’72, along with Alan Radnor ’67, Jim Finn and Eric Herr ’70, Belinda Bremner and Pete Holloway ‘71, Jan Guifarro ’73, and David Horvitz ’74. Shayna and her fellow administrators listened carefully to our ideas, as we did to theirs, and we melded them into a program that emphasizes class history and engagement and developing a financial legacy for Kenyon.
The new model creates a leadership structure with reunion chairs or co-chairs, in our case, and the previously mentioned subcommittees that better defines and expands the roles of these previous less formal planning functions:
• Communication and Engagement – reach out to all classmates, and develop pre- and post-reunion events;
• Fundraising and Participation – offer opportunities for financial support of Kenyon;
• Reunion Weekend Social – plan class events for an extended, three-day weekend beginning on Thursday afternoon.
In this letter and throughout the coming months you’ll be hearing from each chairman and their team members. So please share your ideas for class events and offer to volunteer if you can. Plan to attend as many pre-reunion activities as possible in-person or virtually. And most importantly, save the dates now: Thursday afternoon, May 26, into Sunday, May 29.
As Nancy indicated above we wanted to give each of our newly-appointed subcommittee chairs the opportunity in this letter to briefly address their goals for the 12 months leading up to our 50th reunion, beginning with the Communications and Engagement Committee, whose initial task was to invite class note contributions for this letter and collate information from a variety of sources to keep class members well-informed. Co-chairs Sam and Paula Barone have also engaged committee members in assigning groups of classmates for one-to-one engagement (of a non-fundraising nature) prior to the reunion, and to begin planning a series of virtual events that they hope will be both informative and entertaining. They invite suggestions for topics that might illuminate the talents of class members or groups of class members and faculty. Currently joining Sam and Paula on this committee are: Preston Lentz, Tom Fancher, Alan Spiro, Perry Thompson, Susan McGannon, Lance Coon, Larry Harbison, Bill Wallace and Chris Fahlman, and additional members are always welcome.
Jeff Newton leads the Fundraising and Participation Committee, assisted by David Bergman, Dave Ferguson, Todd Rosenberg, John Ryerson and Ed Straub. Jeff wrote recently:
As part of the 50th class reunion effort a few of us have agreed to serve on a committee to encourage fundraising and participation by our classmates. The main task of our committee is to share information about the priorities of Kenyon and to circulate various ideas and examples of how each of us, within our own unique capacity, can help contribute to the financial future of our alma mater. The college was passed down to us by generations of generous alumni/ae and friends and it is now our opportunity to pass it forward.
This will financially mean different things to each of us, but our goal is to have as many classmates as possible make whatever gift they feel is appropriate so that the class has the highest participation rate possible.
To plan the perfect reunion weekend in Gambier – now a Thursday through Sunday affair for 50th reunion classes – Doug, Nancy and Tom tapped Kevin Horrigan to lead the Reunion Weekend Social Committee. We recently received this update from Kevin:
The Reunion Weekend Social Committee has the task of planning activities that will add to the enjoyment of our time together and which will coordinate with the schedule of other reunion events that the College will be planning for May 26-29, 2022. I am grateful to Bruce Mavec, Bud Shaw, John Ryerson, Chris Fahlman, and Tom Moore for agreeing to serve on this committee. We will aim to let you know what we're thinking, and we'll also count on getting ideas from you.
So far, two experiences from past reunions have been suggested as possibilities for our 50th. One is the return of Rick Alles and David Erickson's rock band "Zeet." The other is continuing the conversation about how Kenyon has stayed with us across the years. This topic was discussed early in our 45th reunion, and that exchange of thoughts proved to be one of the best parts of the weekend. It helped classmates re-connect and was a stimulating start to being back in Gambier.
With these good memories from past reunions, and with your help, we look forward to planning for our 50th.
Make plans to arrive in Gambier on THURSDAY afternoon, May 26. Thursday’s important because our 50th Reunion Class Dinner, on our own and in a prime location, is that evening. Special events for our class will continue through the weekend, so plan to travel home on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
We expect the flow of information from all reunion sub-committees, as well as from our three Reunion co-chairs, to accelerate in the weeks and months ahead. We especially ask you to be on the lookout for invitations to engage classmates in the array of virtual pre-reunion events we will be announcing. If you are not already subscribed to the Kenyon College Class of 1972 Facebook page, can we suggest you do so? You can reach it using this link: www.facebook.com/groups/154221974620771
As we prepare to sign-off on this lengthy letter, may we remind you all that The College is counting on us to show up in record-breaking numbers for this year’s 36-hour “Kenyon Together” giving challenge which kicks-off the morning of Wednesday, May 19 as part of the 2021 virtual reunions. Mark your calendar for a fun chance to help Kenyon students today, earn prizes, join in some good friendly competition and win bragging rights. After the success of 2020’s Kenyon Together giving challenge, the College knows just how impactful our alumni community can be when we work together to raise money for our beloved alma mater and its current students.
As alumni, we can help today’s students by staying connected with the College and making gifts to scholarships that help Kenyon continue to meet the growing financial needs of students and their families. No matter how you choose to stay involved with Kenyon, we hope you too are breathing a sigh of relief as we prepare for better days ahead.
Yours for Kenyon,
The Class of 1972
Communications and Engagement Committee
P.S. We’ve saved the most anticipated part of this class letter for last, and the Communications Committee was gratified that our recent appeal for class notes was richly rewarded with several submissions. Scroll down to find them and enjoy!
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Support current students now with a gift to scholarships
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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 to:
- 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.
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| Virtual Events for Alumni
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All alumni are invited to join us at these virtual reunion events in May:
- Opening Ceremony/Virtual Hospitality Tent
4 p.m. ET Sunday, May 16
- Kenyon Together 36-Hour Giving Challenge
from 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, May 19 – 9 p.m. ET Thursday, May 20
- Town Hall with President Decatur
7 p.m. ET Thursday, May 27
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1972 CommitteeIf you would like to learn more about joining us, please contact Shayna Daubert at dauberts@kenyon.edu.
• Doug Holbrook, Leader
• Nancy Ellis, Leader
• Tom Moore, Leader
Communications & Engagement
• Sam Barone, Co-Chair
• Paula Barone, Co-Chair
• Lance Coon
• Chris Fahlman
• Tom Fancher
• Larry Harbison
• Preston Lentz
• Susan McGannon
• Alan Spiro
• Perry Thompson
• Bill Wallace
Reunion Weekend Social
• Kevin Horrigan, Chair
• Chris Fahlman
• Bruce Mavec
• John Ryerson
• Bud Shaw
Fundraising & Participation
• Jeffrey Newton, Chair
• David Bergman
• Dave Ferguson
• Todd Rosenberg
• John Ryerson
• Ed Straub
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Class of 1972 Spring Notes
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David Bergman – I am looking forward to having an elevator installed in John’s and my house. Then we won't have to move as the Parkinson's progresses. But as a New Yorker, I have always loved travelling by elevator. COVID and retirement have given me the time for an extensive electronic correspondence with Reed Woodhouse ’70, who urged me to read War and Peace, the perfect book for this era of social distancing, and now that I'm no longer teaching. It is so much better than Ulysses or Proust or even Melville. It is the perfect book to read when you have lived a life and are ready to devote yourself to other lives of fiction.
Bruce Kiracofe – After 20 years of living in Costa Rica during winters, last winter I sold my property there. I do look forward to returning often to that amazing country that I love and appreciate, but to enjoy being there as a turisto rather than as a homeowner. I guess I'm a true cultural stereotype, preferring to be closer to my daughter and granddaughter, who live in Columbus, at this stage of my life. This winter, I camped at Florida waterfront areas in my '71 VW pop-top camper van, using my '71 R50/5 Beemer motorcycle to explore around my camp. I expect to return to Ohio by late April, and then begin the process of having solar installed on my house on the Kokosing River above the Stull Road bridge, a couple miles east of Gambier. I am looking forward to my daughter Abby having her second child in July. Fortunately, I am healthy and well, and am very much enjoying retirement after decades of lawyering and non-profit executive admin work. I hope that you are all healthy, happy and doing well!
John Edgerton – I am living in Cincinnati, semi-retired. Part of semi is spent renovating a 100+ year old home in an historical area; the other part consulting to old employers on retail store design, engineering and installation. Notable clients: Apple, Nordstrom, Lowe’s, Home Depot and Altria Tobacco. The great thing with consulting is being able to say “NO!” Looking forward to visiting with classmates at our 50th reunion in 2022. Engaged and Ecstatic!
Ric Bauer – We sold our house in Oct. 2020 and have spent the winter in an RV park in Cortez, FL, one mile from the Gulf beaches. In April we plan to head back to Maryland for a couple weeks, and then head west to Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, en route to Banf, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies (if the border is open by then). We have our National Park passes, and are looking forward to the adventure of the open road. Will be doing photos and videos of our trip, as well as both Instagram and YouTube. Also working on my first book, The Faraway Nearby, to be published on Amazon in January 2022. Find and follow me on Facebook for updates on our trip, and Free “Advance Reader” copies of my book. Email me anytime at ric.bauer@gmail.com.
Todd Rosenberg – Exchanged greetings at the New Year with my old roommate Fred Williams. Fred and his family seem to be doing fine. We're both glad that our daughters scheduled their weddings for 2019. What a difference a year makes. This past summer, my daughter began working as an epidemiologist for the Cleveland Department of Public Health, analyzing COVID cases in the city. Long, long hours, of course, but things are improving. It's nice to have our own personal epidemiologist on call in the event Dr. Fauci is unavailable for advice. What's been on your pandemic reading list? On a whim I picked up Anna Karenina, which led to Eugene Onegin, which led to Crime & Punishment – a sort of self-directed course in 19th C. Russian Lit. in translation, of course. Great reads. All those passages set in the Russian winter helped put Northeast Ohio's winter in perspective. Finally, wondering if any classmates caught Prof. David Rowe's "Hill to Hill" on-line panel discussions? No surprise, but the sessions were excellent, insightful, and thought-provoking. Seems I'm still learning thanks to Kenyon. Stay safe, everyone.
Brian Mark – I am vaccinated, healthy, and in possession of my faculties. Charley Steuber ’73 and Jim Lucas ’73 keep tabs on me and apprise me of all matters concerning economics, culture, and Kenyon. Retirement was not supposed to be a pandemic, but I have been resourcefully utilizing my time painting oil portraits and learning slack key on my Martin, and doing everything in the garden my wife demands. Chomping at the bit to get the hell out of Los Angeles for some R&R in Taiwan and Hawaii.
Chris Fahlman – Greetings from Gambier. As I look out my Gund Gallery office window, I am pleased to report the enclosed construction walkway that has been our view for the past two years during the Chalmers Library construction is now gone...just in time for spring. The latest plan, I understand, is for the Library to be tourable this spring, with the Richard Serra sculpture being erected in the West Quad during the summer. The Gund Gallery's current exhibition is “The Art of Trees,” a most appropriate and engaging subject in Gambier and Knox County. It has been very popular but attendance has certainly been impacted by the necessary COVID precautions. The exhibition features works from the Gallery's permanent collection, a wide array works on loan from other institutions, a special selection of works, and “Nearby Voices,” which features Kenyon faculty and emeriti. As always, the best way to learn about and engage with the Gund is through our website at gundgallery.org. The staff has done a lot of clever things this year to extend engagement with the Gallery under a “Near and Far” effort. I recommend, for example, Brian Harnetty's novel work which will allow you to revisit soundscapes at various campus landmarks. Check it out. As I write, we await the announcement of a new Director/Chief Curator for the Gund Gallery, and we have been hard at work developing exhibitions and programs to celebrate the Gallery's 10th Anniversary during 2021-2022.
Tom Moore – I happily served on the committee that was asked to help envision a new model for 50th reunions. One of my comments was that the Class of ‘72 has had nine reunions so far. I think I have been to all of them. All were fun. The main thing we want to do is to spend time with each other. There are the close friends that we will seek out. There will be folks who we really get to know for the “second first-time” at reunion. I think the staff is doing a good job of making sure that we have the best choice of College resources available to us for our 50th. Personally I am serving on the Alumni Council. I am enjoying it. I am sure that the younger members get tired of me talking about how Kenyon used to be. Pegi Goodman ’73 is always there to defend me! My new Kenyon home has been the Gund Gallery since Chris Fahlman returned to Kenyon to work there several years ago. I think it is a great gathering place for alumni when we are able to be back in Gambier and at Kenyon. I have spent much of the pandemic on Zoom. I am on the Board of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation and the Board of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. I have been taking Osher (lifelong learning classes) at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, of which I am also an alum. I have been participating in the Pittsburgh Book Group meeting by Zoom. We are on our fourth book since last March. I have to say that Kenyon has provided a lot of wonderful virtual content over the last year. Professor David Rowe hosted a wonderful series leading up to the election. There have been town halls with president Decatur. Also some sessions with Dan Epstein ’70 and Sante Matteo ’71.
Lance Coon – After eight months hiding from the virus in the mountains of Arizona, Judy and I descended to the desert in November and promptly became COVID positive. We had been extremely fortunate to have our mountain hideout, where we could have small groups of friends over for drinks in our driveway and do weekly trail hikes with our Socially Distant Hiking Club. Testing positive was a real eye-opener, but, again fortunate, we both had very mild cases, nothing more than a headache, chills, and fatigue. Now, having recovered almost fully and received both Moderna shots, life hasn’t really changed all that much. I’ve gone back to the gym, we can visit our retired friends without masks but still wear them in public, and we haven’t seen our grandchildren in over a year and won’t until the whole family has had its shots. I’ve been periodically ranting about the behavior of Congressional Republicans on Facebook, reading lots of detective and spy novels, and dreaming of when we will feel safe enough to plan the replacement for the cruise we cancelled last September. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Gambier next May.
Lawrence Harbison – I have been editing books for Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. My latest are two anthologies by members of the Honor Roll, an advocacy group for women playwrights over 40. When I was asked by the founder of the group to help them, I told her this was a bad idea, as I am a member of the Oppressive Patriarchy, but she insisted. Plus, I have been writing a memoir about my life in New York, posting chapters on my blog at www.playfixer.com as well as on www.applausebooks.com. It’s entitled, 200 Times a Year; My Life In, At and Around the Theatre. When I lived in NYC I went to the theatre at least that often – for 35 years. I saw all the great plays, the great musicals, the great revivals, the great actors and the work of the great directors. I am truly blessed. I am a Theatre Geezer. You know you are a Theatre Geezer when you start seeing revivals—and you saw the original production. My best chapter in my memoir is on Samuel French but I am not posting it as it would probably get me sued. I’ll send it to you if you are interested. The “Dramatis Personae” chapter is pretty good, too. It’s about the many cool people who passed through my life.
For those who are unaware, I am sad to report the passing of former Kenyon Drama Professor Jim Patterson. He was one of the best teachers I had at Kenyon and he had a huge impact on me. I became quite friendly with Jim after he retired. We got together for lunch a couple of times when he and his partner Tim were in NYC. He had moved on to the University of South Carolina and had a fine career there, but he told me that he much preferred teaching at Kenyon because “the students were smarter”.
David Ferguson – We have finished building our new house in northern Delaware (although we are south of the C&D Canal, so we are still well within LSD – Lower Slower Delaware). For eight years we lived at the beach in southern Delaware (where the War of Northern Aggression, i.e. the Civil War is still well underway) in a beautiful planned community, which, when finished, will have between 1,400 and 1,600 homes. Unfortunately, only about 20 - 25 percent are occupied full-time with the rest being second homes or investment properties. Thus, in the winter there is virtually no one there and, in the summer, you can't move. But, I digress. We are now settled in, an hour closer to our daughter and her family and two hours closer to our son and his family. And, shockingly, the stores and restaurants are open throughout the year and are close by. Who would've thought? Life is good and I look forward to our upcoming 50th reunion!
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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.
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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