| Kenyon Class of 1966 Spring Class Letter
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Dear classmates,
After a year that felt like a decade, I am 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 like they have the last 50 years.
After receiving a record number of applications, Kenyon has enrolled its Class of 2025. And 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 construction of three new South Campus residence halls, allowing the College to increase focus on growing resources for scholarships. This is where we come in! The success of the next part of the campaign, Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial, relies on our increased participation and continued support of scholarships for students.
As promised nearly five years ago, “if we’re alive we’ll do 55,” Larry Leventon, Jack Buckley and Bill Rice have put together our own in-person reunion weekend in addition to the campus wide virtual reunion scheduled with all classes. You should have received an email earlier this month with room, meal and activities information included. After considering all options, the weekend of Friday, October 1st through Sunday October 3rd, 2021 was selected. Please RSVP Larry Leventon at larry.leventon@gmail.com with your intention to attend as well as number of tickets for the football game and attendees at dinners.
In the meantime, the College is holding a virtual reunion that is spread out between May 15th and 29, so check for information below and join the events—a chance to see each other virtually. And a chance to win some Kenyon swag. There will be events with faculty, social gatherings, a tour of the soon to open new Chalmers Library (many of you will remember that Robert Frost made his last public appearance at the dedication of the previous building).
The College is also counting on us to show up (and break our record numbers!) for this year’s 36-hour Kenyon Together giving challenge kicking off the morning of Wednesday, May 19 as part of the virtual reunion. Save the date 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. I invite you to join me in supporting the College in both of these ways. Our alma mater and all of you have contributed to the hope and optimism I feel for the future by providing regular points of connection during an isolating year. No matter how you choose to stay involved with Kenyon, I hope you too are breathing a sigh of relief as we prepare for better days ahead.
Take care,
Burt Dibble
P.S. Scroll down to read our 1966 spring class notes.
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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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Connect with your classmates at these class-specific reunion events:
- Virtual Class Dinner (following the Alumni Town Hall)
7 p.m. ET Thursday, May 27
- 1966 In-Person Reunion - "If We're Alive, We'll Do 55"
Friday, Oct 1 - Sunday, Oct 3, 2021
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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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Reunion Committee MembersReunion Committee members are your connection to campus. If you would like to learn more about becoming one, contact Terry Dunnavant at dunnavantt@kenyon.edu.
• Carl Mankowitz
• Burt Dibble
• Jerry Reynolds
• Jim Foster
• Jack Buckley
• Larry Leventon
• Lowell Gaspar
• Tom Mason
• Bil Rice
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Class of 1966 Spring Notes
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Burton Dibble - I'd not be the first to express disappointment about missing each other in Gambier this Spring. Mae's law firm has an office here in Cape Coral FL, so we are official snow birds--a role I never expected I would be enjoying. Mae is 3/4 employed in NH and FL doing estate planning, and I 1/3. I continue as a Medical Director for Compassus Hospice. With Zoom what it is, we can take our work with us. Banking by photo-app and internet. Who could have imagined it 55 years ago! It also enables us to keep on with our commitments to civic affairs at home in NH--Town Boards and preservation interests. We are both active in Rotary. Two children are doing well and managing 4 grandchildren successfully--one successfully emancipated. As COVID-19 comes under control, we will be visiting frequently, again. It has been said that one should retire to something, not from something. In our mid-70's we don't get to retire. Be well and stay safe. I can't wait until we can be face-to-face again!
Jake Rohrer - It's been an unusual year since the lock-down started. Fortunately we've had a mild and dry winter in Southern California, so I've been able to play golf, swim & take lots of walks. We haven't seen our kids & grandkids for a very long time, but hopefully that will happen soon now that we have had both of our COVID shots. One more Pandemic observation that perhaps some of you have shared...After 50+ years of marriage, it was almost like Andi and I have started over. Since we can't visit with friends, it's just the 2 of us having a glass of wine, dinner & "meaningful" conversation. Just like when we were first married. Only one thing missing...guess what that is!
Jerry Reynolds - After receiving two doses each of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination in February and several negative Covid tests, Claudia and I headed out to spend March 2021 in Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles. Our get-away decision was rewarded by a safe, efficient, direct United Airlines flight from Washington, D.C. to Phillipsburg, easy entry into Sint Maarten with the right paperwork, and now beautiful warm weather (78-83 degrees F.), sunny skies, and daily swims in the Oyster Bay Beach Resort pool or in the Atlantic Ocean from Dawn Beach next door. Our physical and mental health has improved markedly with plenty of rest, rum, and reflection!
Lee Bowman - In the U.K. we have had a pretty 'serious' lockdown for nearly a year, and it has made business really difficult. Zoom and Teams have worked in some client situations, but there is really no substitute for face-to-face contact to build trust and reinforce relationships.
All non-essential shops, all restaurants, bars, and pubs remain closed, and no 'socializing' is allowed, even outdoors. Schools have only re-opened earlier in March. One major problem is that the lack of 'routines' like commuting or going to the office, lead to all the days blurring together, so a week-end is no different than a mid-weekday. It's also especially weird to be watching professional sports like rugby being played in empty stadiums (Stadia? - Norman Hatch....)
Sue and I have had our son, Fred, wife, and two kids living in our guest cottage since they fled London eight months ago, and that has been fun. It's a lot easier in the countryside than being stuck in an inner city apartment with no practical outdoor space, but.......we will all be glad when we have had our second Covid vaccine jab, and life begins to return to normal here, hopefully by mid-May!!!
Michael Sivitz - Hello fellow classmates! Hope you have all had your Covid-19 vaccine and are gradually able to expand your world, too. I'm keeping busy with my orchid collection, doing some wood turning, and Zoom classes in modern Hebrew, as well as "the joys of home ownership." My wife, Marta, still practices ophthalmology full time, so between that and Covid, we have remained pretty much in Lafayette Hill, PA. Since 20 January 2021, we have felt calmer, happier, and more optimistic.
Robert Moyer - First time in fifty years not appearing in front of a class. A good year for writing—two poems in the two major anthologies of the best 2020 haiku in English, and you can visit my book reviews at Briar Patch Books. I survived COVID, and am back to swing dancing and Petanque. I will miss visiting campus for our fifty-fifth.
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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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