| Kenyon Class of 1980 Fall Class Letter
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| Dear Classmates,
Although Kenyon is beautiful year round, the best season in Gambier is the fall. Kenyon is at its most magnificent when the colors begin to change. The cool breezes balance out the afternoon sun and the crunchy leaves blanket everything, most especially Middle Path. Whatever the season, I look forward to running into you on campus in the not too distant future. This is especially true since we were unable to have an in-person fortieth reunion.
When we do see each other, there will be many new places to discover on campus. Chalmers Library is open and beautiful. The west quad will be finished within this next year. Groundbreaking for the new residence halls on the south end will happen soon. I am eager for you to see all these changes yourself. The alumni office is working hard as they plan for an unforgettable Reunion 2022 on the Hill. Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 27 (all alumni will be invited) or plan to attend our forty-fifth in May of 2025.
In other exciting news, the College recently shared its new strategic plan that will guide its planning and actions leading up to the bicentennial in 2024 and beyond. It includes core elements of developing a computer science program informed by the liberal arts; of enrolling, retaining and graduating a student body that is representative of the talent and diversity of our nation and the world; and of expanding the College’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
You may have heard the announcement of the Kenyon Access Initiative which will bring more high-achieving students to Kenyon thanks to a $25 million matching grant from the Schuler Education Foundation. Any amount we give through the Kenyon Access Initiative will be matched 1:1 and will go to a new scholarship for students from families with limited means and those ineligible for government aid — up to $25 million.
Scroll on to learn more about Kenyon’s strategic plan and the Kenyon Access Initiative (and how they fit into our 2024 bicentennial celebration). As you read about what’s in store for Kenyon’s future, I hope you will consider supporting current students with a gift to the Kenyon Fund and (if you have the ability) making an additional gift to the Kenyon Access Initiative. It is truly one of the most exciting opportunities that we have to make a difference in the lives of others.
Kenyon continues to grow and evolve in wonderful ways due to incredible faculty, talented students and involved and supportive alumni. As the bicentennial draws closer, I urge each of us to do a little more to support the College. Consider becoming an alumni volunteer, attending a regional College event, submitting a class note, or returning to Gambier for a visit. It would be so nice to see you on Middle Path!
Stay safe and be well,
Ellen Turner
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| There's a lot happening at Kenyon today.
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We want you to be a part of it.
The Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial campaign is about building a strong foundation for Kenyon’s third century by growing our endowment and strengthening alumni connections. Get involved by:
Staying connected to Kenyon
You may only be a Kenyon student for four years, but you’re a member of our alumni community for life. The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement strives to make it easy — and fun — to stay connected. GET INVOLVED
Making a gift
Gifts of all sizes add up: every year, gifts of $100 or less to the Kenyon Fund total more than $250,000. Also, every dollar given to the Kenyon Access Initiative between now and June 2026 will be matched and used to create permanent new scholarship funds to enroll exceptional students with limited resources and those who are ineligible for government aid. MAKE A GIFT
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| Upcoming Events for Alumni
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Save the date for these upcoming events for alumni taking place online and on the Hill.
- Kenyon Women Giving Back
The quarterly event series continues on Tuesday, March 22 via Zoom.
- Kenyon Together
The 36-hour online giving challenge kicks off Tuesday, April 12.
- Reunion Weekend
All alumni are invited to join us on the Hill May 27–29.
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Class AgentsClass agents are your connection to campus. If you would like to learn more about becoming a class agent, contact Tracey Wilson at wilson1@kenyon.edu.
• Tom Chesnutt
• Griffin Doster Fry
• Robin Gabriel
• Tim Glasser
• Ellen Turner
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Andrew Bowers writes: Teaching-- especially teaching a foreign language-- during the pandemic has been very much like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. That is why I'm pleased to announce that this is my last year before my blessed retirement! Afterward, if I live, there will be much rejoicing, gardening, drinking and home improvements-- but not necessarily in that order. Hope to see some of you if you're passing by.
From Jenny Hutton Jacoby: Heartbroken by the death of Mark Bistline last year, we all (Doug Jacoby, ’82, Landa Patterson, Mark Offerman ‘80, Ron Link ’81, Doug Dowd ’83, and Joe Horning ’83) were finally able to gather at his Rhode Island home this past September to celebrate his very full life. A day and evening full of good food and drink, story-telling, and live music, it was a party that Mark would have loved.
David Horwitz told us: Nelda ’78 and I still live in downtown Philly where we've lived since 1983. Our older son started working at Facebook as a programmer last summer after being with a smaller tech company since 2011. Our younger son is in Los Angeles pursuing his acting career after graduating from The Stella Adler School of Acting in NYC. I started painting back in 2012 after taking 35 years off from doing any art and that has been good (David_Horwitz_Art on Instagram and davidhorwitzart.com). Nelda continues to work on writing and illustrating her own children's books and sending them out to publishers. I'm still in contact with my freshman roommate John McGarry 45 years later which is wonderful!
The latest from Reed Parker: My family and I have been blessed in this covid period, especially considering that my wife and I live in the Los Angeles area. We are following the baseball race between the Dodgers and Giants closely (go Giants!) this year. I still work for Los Angeles county as an attorney for land use and tax appeal matters. The “boys”, one hitting 30 and the other getting close to 30, are well and employed. Greatly enjoyed the Kenyon Zoom events this past year with other alums and classmates. My best to the class of 80!
An update from Doug Braddock: After almost 40 years in Fairbanks, Alaska, my wife Joan and I recently moved to Bend, Oregon. Moving and downsizing is not for the faint of heart; it’s been quite the odyssey, but we are finally getting settled. If you enjoy being physically active, Bend is a good place to be. And there is a vibrant arts scene and good restaurants! This winter we will be volunteering as mountain hosts at Mt. Bachelor, so please grab your skis and ask for Doug and Joan in the geeky green uniforms. I’m really looking forward to getting together at an actual in-person reunion before too long!
Ethan Powsner writes: I am most of the way through my 23rd year at Fidelity National Financial. Currently I spend most of my time providing operational and financial metrics consulting to owners of title agencies. I live in MI, but most of my work is in Tennessee and Kentucky. It’s a lot of fun and has taken many years to develop the necessary people and technical skills. On the literary side, I wrote a short ghost story (Eye Contact: A Motorcycling Ghost Story) and got it published in a motorcycling magazine. I also discovered pickleball in May and travel everywhere with my equipment. I’ve played in FL, KY, TN, and MI.
The latest from Karl Shefelman: Hello Class of '80, As we struggle our way back to some semblance of normalcy after two very tough years, I am happy to say I'll be back out on location soon directing a new short film, this one in New Jersey on Sandy Hook beach and a nearby town. It's called Missing Her and it's another darkly comedic look at nostalgia which seems to be a theme of mine. I'm also honored to be working once again for one of my filmmaking idols, director Francis Ford Coppola, as a conceptual illustrator on a huge opus of a movie he's been trying to make for more than 20 years called Megalopolis. I can't complain!
Steve Sexsmith married Judy Nourse on October 9th. It's been a long time since high school, but we found each other.
Ellen Turner writes: I hope everyone is doing well after dealing with the pandemic for the last year and a half. Dick and I are so fortunate to have good health care and to be able to do our jobs safely. The major challenge has been not seeing our grandchildren in person. Armed with masks and being fully vaccinated, we took a few road trips this summer which allowed us to see our two youngest grandkids and some old friends. It was particularly special to spend time with Leah Stewart Ogden when we traveled to North Carolina in August. Every time Leah and I are together, the years melt away. It also helped that our significant others enjoyed the evening, too. We hope to see Leah and Rob in Cleveland in the near future!
Quentin Hardy provides this update: I published a piece in Town & Country on a famous painting in Siena, Italy, and have been giving online lectures on Renaissance Art & Technology, with parallels to today. All very gratifying.
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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 is grateful to the following donors for their generous support of the College, including the Kenyon Fund, during the 2020-21 fiscal year. An asterisk (*) indicates a donor is a member of the Henry J. Abraham Society for loyal and consecutive giving. An obelisk (†) indicates an individual who is deceased. Please note that as of July 1, 2019 Kenyon’s annual giving societies have changed. Visit kenyon.edu/societies for more information.
1980
Annual Fund Total: $81,694
Class Participation: 29.2%
President's Society
Donors of $50,000 or more
Douglas A. Ames*
Mrs. Mary M. Ames*
Pamela Feitler Hoehn-Saric
P'10 '14*
Christine Gould Sharkey*
Jennie Hutton Jacoby*
Philander Chase Society
Donors of $10,000 to $24,999
John Kilyk, Jr.*
Mark O'Connell*
Ellen C. Turner*
Bexley Society
Donors of $2,500 to $9,999
John C. MacNeil P'15*
Robert I. Sprague*
Leonard Weinberg II*
Robert A. Weiss P'11*
Kenyon Society
Donors of $1,000 to $2,499
Dana S. Berg*
Douglas T. Braddock*
Robert H. Brauer*
David R. Cohen P'10 '13*
Peter W. Flanzer*
Susan J. Halbower*
Jill Kaplin*
Sherryl Kohr*
Chuck Mann*
Wilhelm M. Merck*
William F. Sterling*
Robert W. Thomas*
Robert E. Weinberg*
Anonymous
Donors of $1 to $999
Bobbi A. Barr*
James H. Bates MD P'11 '13 '17*
Virginia Calhoun de Millan P'07*
Christine L. Carter*
Thomas W. Chesnutt*
Ann E. Cless*
Bret R. Cohen*
R. John Feely III*
Roger O. Fillion*
Lauren S. Fox*
Anne B. Friscia
Griffin Fry*
Robin H. Gabriel
Lori Gallo*
David D. Garner P'03*
Timothy G. Glasser*
The Rev. Mark C. Hallinan, S.J.*
Juliana Hanson Scherrer*
Quentin R. Hardy
Kyle W. Henderson*
Timothy Herron MD
Leslie Hough*
Roger M. Ikeda
Sarah P. Jaicks
Marc T. Kennedy
Nancy B. Lacy
Heather Thomas Lazare*
Erica Lindberg Gourd
William S. Lipscomb II*
Eileen P. Maloney*
Leslie Marting P'14*
Kevin K. McKinney*
Laurence P. O'Connell*
Lori A. Palmer*
James T. Parker
Stephen M. Penn*
Roger S. Pierce Jr.*
Ethan M. Powsner*
J. James Reisler*
Stacy S. Remke*
Kenneth F. Rice*
Andrew L. Rosencrans
Lisa D. Schott*
Lee S. Segal MD
Stephen R. Sexsmith
Nigel J. Shaw
Amy B. Sheperdson*
J. Duncan Shorey Esq.*
Laurel Smith Rosenberg*
Lynn Snyderman*
Leah Stewart Ogden
Keith B. Studzinski
Sarah A. Swanson*
Richard L. Titus*
Lisa M. Turner*
Madge E. Vail
Michael S. Weng*
Amy Wheatley H'92
George Wharton Mariott Society
These alumni have included Kenyon
in their estate plans
Douglas A. and Mary M. Ames
Douglas T. Braddock
Diane M. Elam
James J. Freedman
David D. Garner
Kyle W. Henderson
John Kilyk, Jr.
David W. Knowlton
Phillip P. Smith
Robert W. Thomas
Ellen C. Turner (IMO Katherine
King Turner)
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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