| Kenyon Class of 1963 Fall Class Letter
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| Dear Classmates,
Kenyon couldn’t be more Kenyon than it is in the fall. Am I right? I’m talking cool breezes to balance out the afternoon sun, crunchy leaves blanketing everything in autumn colors and an endless supply of friendly faces to greet you along Middle Path. I hope we will all get the chance to return to Kenyon. I have even more reason to do so since my granddaughter Mia is a member of the Class of ’25. Mia’s mom, Amy, is a member of the Class of ‘92. I am delighted to have a third generation at Kenyon.
And what a campus we will return to! The “new” Chalmers Library is open and beautiful. It is a remarkable building, and we are once again proud that our classmate and friend, Graham Gund, designed it. All four classes are studying together again in Gambier. (With a bonus first-year cohort finishing their initial semester in Copenhagen!) And plans are taking shape for an unforgettable Reunion 2022 on the Hill. (Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 27. All alumni will be invited to attend!)
In other exciting campus news, the College just shared its new strategic plan that will guide its planning and actions leading up to the bicentennial in 2024, and beyond. You will be pleased to see it includes core elements like developing a computer science program informed by the liberal arts; enrolling, retaining and graduating a student body that is representative of the talent and diversity of our nation and the world; and expanding its commitment to environmental responsibility.
You have also likely 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 this 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.
I could go on for pages about these two pieces of Kenyon news, but lucky for you, I don’t have to. 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 is in store for Kenyon’s future, I hope you will consider supporting the current and future generations of Kenyon students with a gift to the Kenyon Fund and (if you have the ability) make an additional gift to the Kenyon Access Initiative that has the potential to double the number of talented students at Kenyon who come from families with limited financial resources.
Kenyon couldn’t be Kenyon without involved and supportive alumni like us. As the bicentennial draws closer, I challenge each of you to do a little more than you have in the past to help make Kenyon the special place it is. This could mean, even though we are, or will soon become, octogenarians, being an alumnus volunteer, attending a College event, submitting a class note or setting up a recurring monthly gift.
Thank you for your support this year and over the last 58 years!
All my best. Neal nmayer@mindspring.comP.S. Is Kenyon already in your will? Let the College know about your planned giving by emailing daleiden1@kenyon.edu.
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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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We have lost two members of our class earlier this year: Rene Wachs passed on January 15, 2021 and Richard Fassler died on March 15, 2021. You can find obituaries for both on Google. May they both rest in peace.
Neal Mayer writes: Our lives can be changed by seemingly small and random events. I want to thank Dave Evans for asking me to drive 185 miles to Western College for Women in the Spring of 1962 with the promise of introducing me to a nice Jewish girl. Dave recently wrote on Facebook, where I noted Jane and I were celebrating our 58th wedding anniversary, that "We were all astonished at the instant combustibility between you both."
Jane and I are looking forward to our four children and twelve grandchildren visiting for Thanksgiving and an early celebration of my 80th birthday. Our granddaughter, Mia Tsuchida, is a member of the Class of '25! We are grateful for our blessings!
Les Alford shares: After 34 years of living in beautiful Bend, Oregon, Judy Alford and I are moving to SoCal to be close to our granddaughters and our family. We have mixed emotions, much like watching your mother-in-law drive your new Ferrari off a cliff. But we are excited to soon be among the exotic fruits and nuts for which SoCal is so renowned.
Steve Fischman writes: I met today with President Sean Decatur and it sure seems like Kenyon is in great shape. On October 12 a small group from Boston are having dinner together: Graham Gund, Nate Withington ’62, Dave Schmid ’64, Barry Jentz ’64, Tom Bond ’64 and me. I am in regular touch with great old friends and classmates Steve Weingrad and Dave Dawson - can’t believe we are 80. I continue to work in real estate. Disappointed to report I have three grandkids at University of Michigan but still have hope for the last. We divide our time between the Boston area and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
Bob Macdonald shares: Finally traveling again with October trip to Chicago for several of its great restaurants. Continuing charitable work for United Way and Twin Cities Rise. Low key celebrations with family and friends for my 80th birthday. Five grandkids under 10 keeping us busy.
Dusty Stiles contributes: It's not that there's anything different from last year, but we continue to be healthy and energetic in our activities. Barbara had re-starting teaching T'ai Chi classes as folks have gotten vaccinated and have gotten more comfortable with group engagement. I continue with engineering and repair services at Beverly Hills High School, my 51st year working there, very part-time. The bulk of my time seems to be with activities at our church, not that I'm heavily religious, but the campus is five and a half acres with numerous buildings and loads of opportunities for repairs and upgrades. A group of us, the Wednesday Maintenance Department, spend Wednesday mornings fixing sprinklers and valves, replacing lights, changing timers, patching concrete, scraping and repainting, raking, sweeping, washing, installing security cameras and enjoying coffee breaks. Earlier in the year we pulled out the existing camera system for streaming of Sunday services and installed a new HD system, new TV screens and updated the sound system. Can't imagine a better way to stay active.
Eugene Kraus writes: After being laid off as an usher at the Chicago Symphony in March 2020, I spent time with a lady I met online in Pensacola Fl. during much of the lockdown. Didn't work out so I got 2 Modernas, and went to Panama for a couple of months and am considering relocating there, especially if the Democrats lose the midterms and if Trump looks like he will make a comeback. I plan on traveling from January to May in South America.
David Colley: Published my latest book, Folly of Generals, in April, published by Casemate, military publishers headquartered in London and Philadelphia. It's my tenth book. I focus mostly on military history. You can check out my previous books on my website DAVIDPCOLLEY.COM. Have lived in Easton PA for the past 50 years and have been a writer/author for the last 30. Before that I was a journalist with a stint at the Baltimore Evening Sun and later here in Easton where my wife and I came to raise a family after more than a year of bumming around the world after I got out of my debt to the U.S. in the army. Was last in Gambier about 20 years ago and thrilled at the beauty of the place. Kenyon has got to be the most beautiful campus in the country. Those years at Kenyon from '59 to '63 seem so far away. I think back on them and see only how young we were. I still feel as though I'm not much past 30. Turned 80 in May and hope to keep going for years to come.
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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.
1963
Annual Fund Total: $42,069
Class Participation: 48.1%
President's Society
Donors of $50,000 or more
Steven S. Fischman*
Robert W. Goldman*
Graham Gund H'81*
Philander Chase Society
Donors of $10,000 to $24,999
Neal M. Mayer P'92 GP'25 H'07*
Richard F. Spinner*
Bexley Society
Donors of $2,500 to $9,999
Eric D. Stromberg MD P'93*
Kenyon Society
Donors of $1,000 to $2,499
Joseph W. Adkins III*
Lester D. Alford*
Alan W. Beck P'97*
Richard J. Disantis*
F. Thomas Dvorak*
Calvin L. Ellis*
Calvin S. Frost P'84 GP'20*
Paul H. Moser*
David G. Newhall*
Donors of $1 to $999
John M. Ackermann*
William T. Cave Jr., MD P'95 '96*
Robert Chenen
Thomas H. Curtis*
David Lloyd Evans*
Margaret Foster (widow of
Richard C. Foster)
John C. Gerlach
L. Mifflin Hayes Esq. P'06*
The Rev. Frederick L. Houghton*
Robert Iredell IV P'08*
James P. Keyes*
Eugene Kraus
Robert W. Macdonald Jr.*
Barry J. Mankowitz MD*
Terry L. Owen DVM*
John B. Ramsay III
Kenneth P. Schaebethal*
David R. Shollenbarger MD*
David H. Stiles*
Eric A. Wagner*
Theodore L. Walch*
Robert B. Ward Jr., MD
Stephen C. Weingrad*
Nathan D. Woodberry*
George Wharton Mariott Society
These alumni have included Kenyon in their estate plans or have made
other planned gifts.
Joseph W. Adkins III
John R. Coughlan Jr.
F. Thomas Dvorak
Steven S. Fischman and Nancy Fischman
Robert W. Goldman
David A. Golnik
Barry J. Mankowitz
Neal M. Mayer P'92 GP'25 H'07
Richard F. Spinner
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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