| Kenyon Classes of 1953-59 Spring Class Letter
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| Dear Classmates and Friends,
This is a special edition of our spring class letter. We chose to combine the classes of 1953-1959 to address those of you who overlapped with Bill Lowry ’56. As you’ll read later, the College has chosen to honor Bill, and we want to extend an opportunity for you to add your support in his name.
First, let me update you on my happenings. I’ve been receiving treatment for four malignancies: mantle cell lymphoma (in remission), basal cell carcinoma (treated successfully), prostate cancer (in remission), and melanoma (just beginning treatment). Thankfully, all have been held in check and I can continue an active life: hiking, driving to see children and grandchildren and participating in Zoom discussions with friends, family and others from the class of ’57. Thus, I have a lot to be thankful for, all things considered. My daughter Clara ’13 is completing her third year in medical residency at the U. of Pa Medical Center. She will probably enter academic medicine.
Barbara and I will be moving in June to Cranberry Township, a northern suburb of Pittsburgh. A new home is virtually complete and we look forward to breaking it in and making new friendships there.
Over the course of the Pandemic Year it has been my great pleasure to trigger a series of bi-weekly Zoom meetings with 13 classmates. These began in October, 2020 and continues to the present. Initially, we had a series of tense political discussions but we were fortunate in having some wise and judicious moderators, e.g. Al Halverstadt and Henry Steck, who kept us on track. Topics ranged from Populism, Political Science, Vaccination Disputes and the pride we all have felt in a Kenyon Education. We all look forward to continuing these meetings.
Now, some news from on campus:
Kenyon is 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.
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. 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.
Finally, I’d like to encourage all of you to support the College’s recognition of an outstanding alumnus, William Lowry ’56. Both of Bill’s parents were postal workers who encouraged both Bill and his brother James to attend superb schools: The University of Chicago Laboratory School for elementary school and Francis Parker for high school. He matriculated at Kenyon in 1952 and joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity as its first African American member. Bill was a fine athlete and lettered on baseball, basketball and football. After graduation he worked for two years as the athletic director at Francis Parker, before moving to an executive training program at Inland Steel Corporation. At that company he moved up to its Vice Presidency before moving to the MacArthur Foundation as its head of human resources.
Bill has served on the Board of Trustees of Kenyon for many years and was elected an emeritus trustee of the Board. In recognition of his many contributions to Kenyon, the Board has decided to rename the Kenyon Athletic Center. Hereafter, it will be the William E. Lowry, Jr. Athletic Center. In addition, the Board has established the Lowry scholarship fund for disadvantaged students. You may choose to honor Bill by making a gift to the Lowry Annual Scholarship using the enclosed form and reply envelope. Those wishing to consider estate commitments or gifts to the College’s endowment may contact Shawn Dailey, associate vice president of alumni and parent engagement and annual giving, at daileys@kenyon.edu or 740 427-5151.
Best wishes,Don Fischman '57
P.S. Scroll down for notes and news from 1953 through 1959 alumni.
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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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Class of 1953-59 Spring Notes
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Dominick Cabriele, 1953
I’d like to make a suggestion; Name the football field after Stan Jackson ’52 and Al Ballard ’52. The first people of color admitted to Kenyon. Stan was a gentle gentleman. Al is outstanding. As Jackie Robinson is honored by Major League Baseball we should honor Stan and Al.
Ron Ryan, 1953
Inability to travel this past year so I've done more reading and played more tennis and golf.
Sheppard Kominars, 1953
I will publish 2 volumes of my memoirs and my third volume of poetry in April, The Cruelest Month. Volume 1, Celebration includes Kenyon years.
William “Butch” Aulenbach, 1954
For 2020-2021, my wife of 60 years and I stayed isolated from family & all. (Not a problem because we're best friends.) We worked out every day and still do. With lots of time, I finished my 5th book The Elixir of Life: It's Radical. My editor has it now. Sept 8 was diagnosed with lung cancer. Oct 7 the surgeon removed the top third of the left lung. I am now cancer free. My wife and I went skiing in Lake Tahoe for 2 weeks in Feb. Great conditions but cold. I'm prepping 4 different classes to be taught in summer and fall. 1. The Historical Jesus; 2. Christians for the Abolition of Prisons; 3. History & Archeology in the NT; 4. The Power of Agape in Our Daily Living.
If COVID allows, we'll do a Rhine River Cruise in November. We used to live in Strasbourg, FR so this is a déjà vu. (I'm not really sure if any of this is at all important. We're just doing life as best we can and still having lots of fun.)
David Y. Smith, 1954
Last fall my CPA died, and it hit me - I'd have to find someone to do my federal and CA income tax returns. This might prove difficult with the whole country shut down. An on-line search revealed that the IRS had some sort of affiliation with on-line preparers that would do the returns for free if you met certain criteria. Worth a try. Found a provider, signed up, and went to work, and it was a lot of work. It took about 2 hours a day for around 10 days. I was able to use the 1040 for people over 65 and took the standard deduction, but my minimal law practice required a Schedule C, and a few investments mandated a Schedule D. On my first pass things didn't look right. Turned out my entry of a modest loss carryover was incorrect. Straightened that out and went on to the CA return. The program collected necessary inputs from the federal return, and the rest was easy. It cost $10 for both returns to be electronically filed. After all the effort to get this done on time, the IRS moved the due date for returns to May 27. I'm not sure about next year's returns; I hope I'll be able to do them, even if I don't want to.
Art Johnson, 1955
I seem to be back in the theater business, directing and acting in a dinner murder play at the Frederick Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg April 24. Anne and I have had our vaccinations and I hope this will be safe.
Ed Rhodes, 1955
I married Dorothy Bondurant this past June. For the first time in 20 years we did not spend the winter in Sarasota, Florida because of our concern about the Pandemic.
Peter Keys, 1956
Sixty degrees above zero for a wintertime low with a gentle, caressing ocean breeze is the essence of a marvelous winter. Our home is on San Diego Bay with the open ocean between us and Japan. The various US Navy ships of the sixth fleet, and occasional foreign vessels, traverse the Bay and eventually disappear into the sunset to foreign climes or arrive at dawn. Of course, there are ferry boats, work boats and assorted private yachts plying the bay through each day. Weekends are somewhat chaotic on the Bay.
Our bedroom west window is 8’ high and 25' wide enabling us to gaze over our feet at the Bay traffic. The private yachts are all properly moored in the yacht basin at our feet. Our feet, with us along, are enjoying the endless views from our 21st floor aerie of the 43 story Harbor Club West tower.
Aside from that, we've had two lengthy ocean cruises cancelled this year because of C19. However, our Seattle/Alaska cruise in May and our London, Stockholm. St. Petersburg cruises in July are both still a "go", we think. In Sept., if all goes well, we'll do the Mississippi from origin to New Orleans. Subsequent to all of that, we'll collapse at home and anticipate Christmas with our youngest daughter and her tribe. Familial chaos will reign supreme.
Other than reveling in our marvelous weather, we exist peacefully, as we have for the last 20 years. Joanie's Parkinson’s' Multiple Systems Atrophy of the recent 8 years has not slowed us down at all. "Wheel-chairing" does require a bit of planning but my lovely Joanie accepts things as they are. Incidentally, as a younger woman she was a superior Black Diamond slopes downhill skier as well as a licensed "Open Ocean" sailor of sailboats over 50' waterline length. She was the equivalent of the usual male "Jock." Traveling, with its attendant challenges, gives us the core of a zestful life together.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play??"
Lastly, should there be any Kenyonites' interested in SD, you are welcome to contact me via phone, US Mail or "whatever" at their leisure. Best regards, Peter L. Keys '56 619-209-7510
Ronald Winter, 1956
Ron Winter class of 1956 passed away on February 16 after having a distinguished career in Healthcare. His last job was as Executive Director Of Providence Community Health Centers which he helped build and which served the underserved. He was recognized many times for his achievements and will be very missed in the community. He is survived by his wife Elena, two children and three grandchildren.
Sheldon Fisher, 1958
Our answer to winter and the pandemic was to install an in the wall heater/furnace last fall in our 2 1/2 car attached garage which then became a party room. We were able to see in person our children, grandchildren and friends and even allowed us to host dinners. Of course masks were mandatory as was social distancing for which we had ample room. As a result, the winter and isolation was not as bad as it could have been. We would rather not have had this experience but one has to make do “with the hand dealt you”. Looking forward to our 65th reunion in the spring of 2023 and to seeing an ever changing campus.
Dale Neuman, 1958
Looking forward to relaxation of the Covid lockdown as everyone in my independent living community here (as of March 19) is about six weeks past our second shot of the Moderna vaccine. April will bring some relief from restrictions and more may happen as summer approaches. No one here has tested positive nor has anyone had the virus in the year that we have been restricted. My car has only travelled about 400 miles which mark trips to only medical appointments over 12 months as staff here do all of our shopping and other errands during the lockdown. I’ve read more books and watched more TV in the past year than in the past several years combined. Adjusting to more freedom may take an effort!
Marty Berg, 1958
The last several years, Adrienne and I have been spending the winters in Boca Raton, Florida. During that time I have had the good fortune of meeting with old Kenyon friends. Kurt Riessler, Don Fischman ’57, Dr. Gary Katz ’57, Phil Fogel ’58, Bob Rowe ’56, Bob Mulholland ’59 and John Templeton ’59. We all had great stories.
We return to Cleveland in late May so that I can return for my 8TH season as a volunteer football coach and mentor for the John Hay High School in the city of Cleveland. The program is headed by Coach Rod Decipeda ’96. Coach's program is to turn boys into responsible young men who can achieve their dreams. The team has won several City Championships not because we have the best players but we have those with the most heart. I follow some of the new Kenyon Programs and find them to be right on. The naming of the William Lowery Athletic Center was very special to me. Bill is a friend and a most memorable person. He is most worthy of such an honor.
David N. Sharlin, 1959
Like most people I have been slowed down by the corona virus pandemic. My wife and I were fortunate to get vaccinated. I still work one day a week (flexible time) as Medical Director of the Mercer Co. (NJ) program for children with handicaps. I have a beautiful home with a great view in Vermont and go there as much as possible (this year being the exception) commuting from our home in PA. I ski in the winter and we kayak during the warmer months. We have an “open door” for any of my Kenyon friends who wish to visit. I have 5 wonderful grandchildren and my wife has 3. We get a lot of joy from them and like to visit when we can.
I hope to see everyone at Kenyon for our big 2024 reunion. If you are in our area (PA or VT) please visit.
Brig General Roger Smith, 1959
All quiet on the Southern Front, except for local political endeavors and pondering when we can put our antique boats in the water. So many reunions and events have been cancelled last year and this, that we miss seeing old friends and new. We both are in good health and still have a positive outlook!
James Mahood, 1959
I am now fully retired after a career in writing, editing, and publishing.
Ray Brown, 1959
Cathleen and I are fortunate enough to be in Florida this winter. We have had our vaccine shots and are doing rather well. However, we’re looking forward to returning to Massachusetts soon and getting out on the golf course and hopefully some normalcy. Wishing my classmates and former teammates well!
Max Bermann, 1959
Am living in Canton, Mass and I have been retired from radiology for nine years. My wife and I are now fully vaccinated (one of the perks of being a super senior) and are looking forward to starting to travel again and hopefully will make a stop in Gambier this summer. I am planning to continue teaching English to a Spanish speaker (ESOL) and am volunteering at a local golf course (with perks). The shutdown due to the pandemic has made me realize more than ever before that good health and only a few simple pleasures are enough for a happy life.
Lawrence Los, 1959
Keeping healthy during these very trying times. My wife, Marylou and I have been married for over 56 years and doing great together. Wishing the best for our classmates. We are awaiting when we can go traveling the world again. As a Retired Naval Officer (1980) and Retired Senior Aerospace Engineer (1999), life has been a long, great adventure.
Paul Bryant, 1959
Maxine and I continue to have the good fortune to spend the winter here in FL and the summer in the northern GA mountains at Big Canoe near Jasper, GA. The hip replacement surgery in 2017 has permitted me to play golf nearly every day while we are in FL. When we return to northern GA we spend a great deal of time on our sun porch room where we observe the wild life so abundant in our area. We had 8 bears this past summer with 18 in a recent summer. We are close enough to family to enjoy time with them without distant travel, which was limited during this virus time. Fortunately, neither we nor anyone in our immediate family has suffered from the virus. We hope our former classmates have had similar good fortune with respect to the virus.
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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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