Donald L. Miller '40, on October 31, 2011. The resident of Weems, Virginia, was ninety-three.

Donald was a German major and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He joined Delta Tau Delta. He entered the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and also served during the Korean War. He became a lieutenant commander in the Office of Naval Intelligence.

He was a reporter for the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegram and the Washington Post and became a speech writer for politicians. A raconteur, he enjoyed sharing stories about his brushes with celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor.

Donald played many roles in his long career. He worked on the public relations staff of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He was director of information for the National Agricultural Chemicals Association. Donald twice served as the executive director of the National Captive Nations Committee, an anti-communism advocacy organization created by the U.S. Congress in 1959. Donald was the chairman of Braddock Communications, based in Reston, Virginia. He helped found the Virginia Cultural Laureates Program; the Northern Neck, Virginia, newsletter Community Forum; and Children's Aid International, during the Vietnam War. Donald also helped establish the Lancaster Community Library Storymobile.

He twice owned book stores in Virginia, including the Book Nook in the 1980s and Tavern Books in the 1990s. And he wrote several books, including, in 1966, Strategy for Conquest: A Study of Communist Propaganda Techniques.

Henry E. Wilkinson Jr. 1941, on August 1, 2006, after a brief illness. The Buffalo, New York, man was eighty-nine.

Henry was on the swimming team and joined Beta Theta Pi. He served in the U.S. Army 209th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment during World War II. He reached the rank of captain and was a unit commander. Henry fought in the North Africa campaign and went on to Italy, where he fought in the Battle of Anzio and the Battle of Monte Cassino. He also participated in the invasion of southern France. He won the Bronze Star.

In a 1943 letter to a classmate, Henry wrote, “I was quite pleased when I became a captain a few days ago. I'm in command of B Battery and I have a great bunch of men under me. I have every bit of faith in their courage. We are just waiting for our chance.”

Henry retired in 1991 as an electrical-sales manager. He had worked for Graybar Electric and Lang Electric in the Buffalo area. He was an Eagle Scout.

He was survived by Lois, his wife of sixty-one years; daughter, Patricia O'Neill; and sons Henry E. Wilkinson III and Robert H. Wilkinson.

Robert H. King 1942, on June 26, 2011. A resident of Eustis, Florida, he was eighty-nine.
Robert was a philosophy major. He joined Sigma Pi.

He became the chairman and chief executive officer at World Book in Chicago, president of Time-Life Libraries, president of Spencer Press, and vice president of sales for Encyclopedia Britannica. He was described as an “industry icon” by Direct Selling News and was a member of the Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame. Robert helped establish the Direct Selling Education Foundation and the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations. He was also a consultant to many companies and a mentor to many of his colleagues, Direct Selling News reported. As a consultant, he was president of Consumer Marketing Services in Hollywood, Florida.

In a 1982 letter to the College, Robert said, “Like many others, I, for a long time, have felt that Kenyon is a uniquely valuable institution.”

Robert had three children and was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, and son, John King.

Donald G. McLeod '43, on February 11, 2011. He was eighty-nine.

Donald was a biology major. He was a member of the baseball and track teams. He entered the U.S. Army after graduation and served thirty-three months during World War II in the 945th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion in the Pacific Theater. Donald earned his medical degree in 1950 at the University of California Medical College and was sworn in as a first lieutenant in the Army Medical Corps, where he began his career as an orthopedic surgeon. He performed his internship at Tripler General Hospital in Hawaii.

Donald worked at the 18th U.S. Army Security Agency Field Station in Bad Aibling, Germany.

He and his wife, Sigrid, had five children.

William T. Black 1945, on November 8, 2011. He was ninety-five and lived in Gordonsville, Virginia.

After leaving Kenyon, William learned the trade of engraving and printing and became an executive in the printing and packaging industry. By 1949 he had become president of Allegheny Label in Pittsburgh and later became vice president of sales for Lustour Corporation, sitting on the board of directors for twenty years.

He was an avid golfer and a raconteur with an excellent memory.

William was preceded in death by his wives Glenna in 1975 and Anne in 2000. He was survived by his children Gregory Black, Pamela Black-Van Groll, and Cynthia McClelland; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Devin Brain 1947 P '81, on October 26, 2011. The Cincinnati man was eighty-five.

Devin was a chemistry major. He joined Alpha Delta Phi. Devin served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Arizona and a doctorate at Ohio State University. He spent his career in research and product development at Procter and Gamble Co., from 1954 to his retirement in 1988.

Devin's father, C.K. Brain '22, and grandfather, H.C. Devin 1888, were Kenyon alumni.

Devin was preceded in death by his wives Helen and Jeanne. He was survived by children David K. Brain, Michael D. Brain, Elizabeth Pease '81, John Heekin, and Mary Bolan; fourteen grandchildren; and sister, Elizabeth Godard. Donations in his memory may be sent to United Way of Greater Cincinnati, 2400 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202.

Samuel P. Todd Jr. '47 P '76 '81, on November 4, 2011. The Cincinnati physician was eighty-four.

Sam was a biology major. He joined Beta Theta Pi. He earned a medical degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1949 and served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps from 1954-56. He was an orthopedic surgeon for forty-two years. He returned to Kenyon for a degree in history in 1993. Sam later taught history at the University of Cincinnati, and for a number of years he led the parade of classes at Kenyon, playing the bagpipes.

In an interview with the Alumni Bulletin, he compared the Kenyon of the 1940s to the Kenyon of the 1990s. “The intellectual atmosphere is great,” he said. “The faculty members are bright and helpful and very approachable. They are younger than faculty members used to be, and there is more political diversity. The students are very friendly.”

Samuel was survived by his wife, Emily; son, Samuel P. Todd III '76; daughters Emily T. Stefani and Nancy T. VandenBerg '81 P '10; seven grandchildren; sister, Elizabeth T. Landen; and brother, Thomas U. Todd. Donations in his memory may be sent to the Neahtawanta Legacy Fund, 1465 Neahtawanta Rd., Traverse City, Michigan, 49686, or Kenyon College, Office of Development, 105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, Ohio, 43022.

Albert M. Aboody '48, on January 10, 2012. The Cocoa Beach, Florida, physician was eighty-four.

Albert was a biology major. He joined Middle Kenyon Association. He graduated from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1952. Albert practiced internal medicine in Queens in New York City for many years before retiring to Florida in 2010.

Albert was survived by his daughter, Karen S. Aboody; sons Alan O. Aboody and Roy S. Aboody; five grandchildren; and brothers Ruben and Richard Aboody.

Theodore K. “Ted” Thomas '49 P '76, on November 7, 2011. The Warminster, Pennsylvania, resident was eighty-nine.

Ted was an English major. He worked on the Collegian, was on the tennis team, and joined Psi Upsilon. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an aviator during World War II. He returned to active duty and flew helicopters during the Korean War.

Ted became an advertising writer and advertising manager and worked for Honeywell. He and Charlotte, his wife of fifty-nine years, loved being outdoors and both volunteered at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of Kenyon and served on the Kenyon Fund Executive Committee and Alumni Council. He was a class agent and helped plan reunions. He was a member of the Kenyon Athletic Association. Ted received the distinguished service award in 1981. His father, the Rev. William A. Thomas 1912, and brother, Douglas M. Thomas 1950, were alumni.

Ted was survived by Charlotte and a daughter, Nadine Thomas. He was preceded in death by his son, William M. Thomas '76. Donations in his memory may be sent to Ann's Choice Benevolent Fund, 10000 Ann's Choice Way, Warminster, Pennsylvania, 18974.

Earle I. Ellson '50, on August 26, 2011. The Veneta, Oregon, man was eighty-two.|

Earle was a biology major. He played lacrosse and joined the Middle Kenyon Association. He earned a doctorate in education at the University of Southern California in 1972. He became a teacher and an administrator, including a time as a school principal, in the California public schools.
In a 2004 note to the College, Earle wrote, “Still here in Oregon with the birds and squirrels, rockin' on my front porch.”

Robert R. “Bob” Hall '50, on December 20, 2011, of cancer. The Encinitas, California, man was eighty-five.

Bob was a mathematics major. He worked on the Collegian staff and joined Delta Kappa Epsilon. He had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He went on to a fruitful career as a grower and broker in the California flower-growing industry, where he was one of the “big names,” according to the North County Times of Escondido, California. Bob was known for capitalizing on innovations in the nursery business on a large scale. He had, at one time, more than eighty acres of flowers growing in greenhouses, making his operation one of the nation's largest during the 1960s and 1970s, his son Rob Hall told the newspaper.

He used artificial lighting to maximize growth, Rob Hall said. “My bedroom when I was a kid was right next to the greenhouses. I kid you not, at 11 o'clock the lights went on and my room was illuminated.”
Another son, Bruce Hall, told the newspaper that his father “was more of a businessman than a plants-man” and entered the flower business because his own father had owned a faltering flower company among many landholdings. Bob learned that he had a knack for the business.

The Alumni Bulletin, in 1980, called Bob “a California flower baron.” Bob is believed to be the first to have provided cut and potted flowers on a daily basis to supermarket chains. And his flowers were shipped globally. Bob had as many as 350 employees.

The family mostly left the cut-flower business after restrictions against imported flowers were lifted in the 1980s. Bob later specialized in potted plants, particularly chrysanthemums. He had as many as 600,000 potted plants in his greenhouses. Bob ultimately left the business and sold forty-three acres to Encinitas for $17.2 million for use as a park.

Bob's father, Bruce P. Hall, was a member of the Class of 1911. Bob was a generous supporter of the College. He was a member of the President's Association of Kenyon College and the Kenyon Alumni Council. He was given the Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1988.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Elisse. He was survived by sons Rob, Bruce, and John; five grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

Robert E. Klein '50, on January 1, 2012. The Wilmette, Illinois, man was eighty-five.

Robert was a history major. He joined Beta Theta Pi. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945-47. Robert earned a master's in business administration at Cornell University in 1952, a master's in history at the University of Chicago in 1969, and a doctorate in European history at the University of Chicago in 1981.

Robert worked as a sales manager for the Spring Air Mattress Co. in Chicago, where he shared an apartment with former classmate Douglas W. Downey '51. He moved on to Sealy and was named assistant to the vice president in charge of marketing in 1962. Robert went on to work in the publishing industry at McGraw-Hill for nineteen years and, in 1988, started his own publishing company. He sold that company within two years and later became an associate professor of modern European history at Loyola University in Chicago.

He was survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Robert S. Klein; two grandchildren; and sister, Madelyn Martin. Memorial donations in his name may be sent to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 424 E. 92nd Street, New York, New York, 10128.

Thomas H. “Tom” Carruthers IV 1951, on November 8, 2011, of cancer. The Petoskey, Michigan, man was eighty-four.

Tom joined Delta Tau Delta. He later enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps.

He went on to a career with Standard Publishing in Cincinnati. He served as a president of the Clovernook Home and School for the Blind, head of the Glendale Park Board, member of the Glendale Planning Commission, and member of the Glendale Volunteer Fire Department. While at a second home in Harbor Springs, Michigan, Tom served as commodore of the Little Traverse Yacht Club and president of the Harbor Point Association. Tom was an experienced sailor and an active hunter for most of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patty, and daughter, Reba Lawrence.

Tom was survived by his wife, Susie; children Rip and Jack; eight grandchildren; a step-grandson; and two great-grandchildren. Donations in his memory may be sent to Little Traverse Sailors, P.O. Box 583, Harbor Springs, Michigan, 49740; Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, 616 Petoskey Street, Suite 300, Petoskey, Michigan, 49770; Clovernook Home for the Blind, 7000 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45231; and Glendale Park Board, 30 Village Square, Glendale, Ohio, 45246.

Quentin Draudt '51, in November 2011. The Rocky River, Ohio, man was eighty-two.

Quentin was a physics major. He joined Middle Kenyon Association.

He worked in banking in the 1950s and was the manager of a Broadview Savings and Loan Co. office in Fairview Park, Ohio. With his partner, Leroy L. “Lee” Meier '51, he founded Lee Meier Interiors, an interior design firm in Westlake, Ohio, in 1967. Quentin was the vice president and secretary of the firm that built a reputation for its work in exclusive residential and commercial buildings. The men lived part-time in Gambier.

Quentin had an abiding love for Kenyon and was a generous supporter of the College. Quentin and Lee refurbished the Peirce Hall Lounge in 1991.

William R. Guenther 1953, on September 30, 2011. The Lady Lake, Florida, man was eighty.

William joined the Archons. He earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Northern Iowa in 1957.
He worked in computer programming for the Northrop Corporation and later became a software quality assurance supervisor for the Eastman Kodak Co. in Rochester, New York. He was also a life master bridge player.

He was survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Doreen Avila; sons William and Geoffrey; four grandchildren; and brother, George.

John D. Hallenberg '53, on September 8, 2011. The Minneapolis man was seventy-nine.

John was an economics major. He worked on the Collegian and joined Psi Upsilon. He served in the U.S. Army 6th Armored Division after graduation and was stationed in Tokyo.

He became an employment manager at Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh and moved on to Univac, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, where he spent twenty years and developed recruiting, marketing, and advertising programs. He then worked in several department stores in retail sales and management in Minnesota. He finished his career in golf operations at the Baker National Golf Course in Medina, Minnesota.

Peter P. Conway '58, on February 5, 2012. The Madisonville, Kentucky, man was seventy-five.
Peter was a Spanish major. He joined Delta Tau Delta. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education at Ohio State University in 1959. Peter also attended Denver University and Florida Atlantic University.

He taught junior high school students for ten years in Ohio, Colorado, and Florida. He later became a domestic relations counselor and marriage mediator for the Palm Beach County (Florida) Circuit Court. Peter started the child support enforcement program in West Palm Beach and became the chief investigator.

Peter was survived by his wife, Sheila; daughter, Kimberly Douthitt; son, Christopher; stepson Tony Burford; seven grandchildren; and brother, James R. Conway.

Richard T. Stanley 1958, on May 9, 2011. A resident of Ocean Shores, Washington, he was seventy-four.
Richard joined Beta Theta Pi. He earned a master's in economics at Miami University. He worked as a data processing systems engineer for IBM while living in Santa Maria, California.
Richard was survived by his son, Rick Stanley; daughter, Kimberly Stanley; and two grandchildren.

Joseph T. Bronaugh '59, on December 28, 2011, of complications from an aneurysm, multiple system atrophy, and Parkinson's disease. The resident of Charleston, South Carolina, was seventy-four.

He was an economics major. Joseph was captain of the basketball team and also played lacrosse. He joined Sigma Pi. Joseph earned a master's degree in management at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1969.

Joseph was a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He enjoyed a thirty-year career in the Coast Guard and served variously at Norfolk, Virginia; Monterey, California; Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. Most of his career was spent in Washington, and he worked at the Pentagon and Coast Guard headquarters.

After he retired, Joseph became a volunteer at the Fairfax County Public Library in Burke, Virginia. He was an avid reader and also played golf and tennis and enjoyed hiking.

Joseph was survived by Pratt, his wife of forty-eight years; sons Taylor, Timothy, and Bentley Pratt; eight grandchildren; and sister, Anne Kyle.

John H. McBride 1961 P '99, on December 14, 2011. The Louisville, Kentucky, resident was seventy-three.

John graduated from the University of Louisville in 1967. He was the second-generation president of Porcelain Metals Corp. and was an active member of the Louisville business community.
John was known for his love of boating, particularly on the Georgian Bay in Canada and along the Ohio River. He also enjoyed trap and skeet shooting, automobile racing, and photography. He and his wife, Carolyn, created the philanthropic McBride Fund.

John was survived by his wife of thirty-eight years; sons Michael T. Brown, John K. McBride, and Charles B. McBride; daughters Elizabeth Roberts and Virginia C. “Ginger” McBride '99; and eleven grandchildren.

Jeffrey A. Slade '62, on February 11, 2012. He lived in Sylvania, Ohio, and was seventy.

Jeffrey was an economics major. He was captain of the basketball team and was the Ohio Conference most valuable player in the 1961-62 season. He still holds the Lords career rebounding record (1,209) and rebounding-average record (15.3). He became the first Kenyon alumnus drafted by the National Basketball Association and he played one year for the Chicago Zephyrs, the team that later became the Washington Wizards. Jeffrey is a member of the Kenyon Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

“Athletics at Kenyon in the late 1950s was a very personal experience,” Jeffrey later told the Alumni Bulletin. “With only 500 students, there was little fan support. You really had to want to compete and rely on your teammates. It made us survivors.

“To this day, I believe that experience made me a better competitor and forced me to persevere when a situation gets particularly difficult.”

Jeffrey earned a master's in business administration in 1969 at Roosevelt University. He attended school while working at Joanna Western Mills, a home-furnishings company in Elk Grove, Illinois. Jeffrey went to work for Corplan, the management-consultant division of IIT Research Institute in Chicago. He moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1984 to run Seagate Capital Management. He later started his own company, Slade Investment Management, where he worked until he retired in 2008. Jeffrey was a former board member for the Toledo Mud Hens baseball club and Meridian National Corp.
He enjoyed world travel and golf.

Jeffrey was survived by Carol, his wife of forty-eight years; children Carson Black and Jeffrey Slade; three grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.

Thomas C. Sprague '64, on January 10, 2012, of cancer. The Galena, Illinois, man was seventy.

Thomas was a philosophy major. He joined Delta Kappa Epsilon. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1964-67. He earned a law degree at Chicago Kent College of Law in 1971.

He was a lawyer in private practice and retired in 2007. Thomas was a former trustee of Lyons Township and a past president of the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission. Thomas was a volunteer and director at Safe Haven, a no-kill animal shelter in Galena. He devoted much time to his photography hobby.

Thomas was survived by his wife, Barbara; sons Steven and Peter Sprague; two grandchildren; brother, Arthur Sprague Jr.; and sister, Susan Sherwood. Donations in his memory may be sent to the Hospice of Dubuque, 1670 John F. Kennedy Rd., Dubuque, Iowa, 52002, and to the Kiwanis Club of Galena, 12A279 Lincoln Ct., Apple River, Illinois, 61001.

James Branagan '65, on November 23, 2011. The Bay Village, Ohio, resident was sixty-eight.

James was an English major. He worked on the Collegian, played football, and joined Delta Kappa Epsilon. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. James earned a law degree at Columbia University in 1968.

He practiced business law for many years in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. James joined the Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue law firm in 1968 and continued there for four years. He later became vice president and general counsel at Leaseway Corporation and senior counsel at TRW Inc. He established his own practice in 1988.

James was survived by his wife, Mary Lou; sons Sean Branagan and David Branagan; daughter, Erin Branagan; stepdaughters Marla Mangione and Alison Talarcek; seven grandchildren; and brother, Patrick. Donations in his memory may be sent to Groundworks Dance, P.O. Box 18191, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44118.

Parker C. Molden '68, on November 21, 2011. The Bridgeport, Connecticut, man was sixty-six.

Parker was an English major. He played baseball and joined Beta Theta Pi. He earned a master's degree in psychology at Syracuse University.

He taught English in the Syracuse City School District and then launched a career in educational sales. Parker worked in management at Cambridge Book Co., McGraw-Hill, and R.R. Bowker. He was vice president of institutional sales for E.I.C. Intelligence. He also owned P.S. and F. Enterprises, an investment company. He continued in education in his later years, working as a popular substitute teacher for the Fairfield Public Schools in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Parker was known as a mentor and raconteur. He was fond of bicycling.

Parker was survived by his wife, Sandee; daughters Kelly Dodder and Polly Molden; son, Bradford Molden; and two grandchildren. Donations in his memory may be sent to the American Heart Association, National Center, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75231.

Leonard Frescoln '70, on January 26, 2012. The resident of Wilmington, Delaware, was sixty-four.

Leonard earned a master's in business administration at the University of Delaware. He became a manager at Combustion Engineering Co., a mineral refining firm. He was active in his community and won the Mary Custis Straughn Memorial Award from the State Council on Persons with Disabilities.
He was a gymnast early in life and enjoyed canoeing and rafting. He also had a passion for music and National Public Radio.

Leonard was survived by brothers Robert V. Frescoln and Gerald R. Frescoln. Contributions in his name may be sent to National Public Radio, 635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington D.C., 20001.

Joan McGailey Serena '75, on December 19, 2011, of metastatic melanoma. A resident of Maple Plain, Minnesota, she was fifty-eight.

Joan was a history major. She graduated from the Tobe Coburn School of Fashion in 1976.

Starting about thirty-five years ago, she helped develop and design Christmas trim for the retail industry. She worked for Associated Merchandising Corp. in New York City, where she was divisional manager. In Minnesota, she worked at Department 56 as vice president for consumer and retail marketing and for Marshall Field's and Macy's. Her job included world-wide travel to visit artisans and manufacturers.

Joan was survived by John Serena, her husband of nineteen years, and children Katie and Jack. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, Minnesota, 55905.

Mason Tolman '82, on November 1, 2011. Mason was fifty-one and lived in Slingerlands, New York.
Mason was an English major. He joined Alpha Delta Phi.

He embarked on a career in advertising and became vice president of Young & Rubicam in New York City. The Albany Business News said Mason reached “top-gun status on Madison Avenue.” He won awards for his work on the U.S. Postal Service “We Deliver” campaign and the Postal Service Olympics sponsorship programs. He also worked on brand development for Phillip Morris and new-product introduction for Kraft Foods, according to the Albany Business News.

After fifteen years at that agency he married Jane Magrino, a financial writer for the Dow Jones News Service, and the couple moved to Key West, Florida, where he became executive director of the Key West Innkeepers Association. In 2001, the couple moved to Slingerlands and a home in which he grew up and that had been in the family since the late 1890s, built by Mason's great-grandfather Cornelius Slingerland. Mason worked at Sawchuk, Brown Associates in Albany as director of marketing services. He later founded his own business, Tolman Co., an advertising and integrated marketing communications firm. His firm helped establish fledgling charter schools in the Albany area. Mason was well known in business and political circles in Albany.

A godson, Jonathan Farwell, said Mason “lived a life worth talking about.” He added, “I've laid witness and heard more great Mason Tolman stories than anyone else I can think of. Everyone needs to take a page out of (his) playbook and get out and live before it's too late. I've never met a living soul who knew (him) and who didn't smile at the mention of (his) name.”

He was survived by his wife; brother, Andrews Tolman; and sister, Laura Blake.

Deidre P. Collins 2000, on September 17, 2011. The Bronxville, New York, woman was thirty-four.

Deidre was an economics major. She graduated from Manhattanville College and Columbia Business School. She was manager of investor relations for Alcoa.

Deidre was survived by parents James and Anne Collins and brothers Stephen C. Collins '94 and Timothy W. Collins '98.

Kathryn E. Currier '15, on December 8, 2011, after a brief illness. The resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, was eighteen.

Kathryn participated in the Equestrian Team, Fencing Club, and Quiz Bowl.

She lived to learn. She was known for her intelligent grace in the classroom, her optimism, and her sense of compassion. Kathryn was absorbed in a quest for knowledge and was perhaps most at ease in the company of books. While a student at the Charlotte Country Day School in North Carolina, she was given a list of 100 best books to read in a lifetime; scanning the list, Kathryn checked off seventy-seven of the titles as already read.

“She loved books. She loved reading—and I mean loved it,” her father, David C. Currier, said. “Kathryn loved academics. She just had a passion for learning. It was incredible,” he said. “Not succeeding 100 percent was not an option. And that was for her own satisfaction. She didn't want to be No. 1. She just wanted to get the most out of her learning.”

An early reader, her interest ignited with the Harry Potter series, which Kathryn read more than ten times. Kathryn's admissions essay is a paean to literature and learning, noting that the first book she read by herself was The Velveteen Rabbit, at age five. “I distinctly remember feeling as if I had unlocked a hidden door and discovered a secret.”

Her academic interests at Kenyon, which her father said she loved, included English, history, and, recently, psychology. A budding interest in art history also took root at Kenyon.|

Professor of Art History Eugene Dwyer was Kathryn's advisor and teacher in Greek art. “She was an ideal student, a natural student,” Dwyer said. “She loved learning. She was so excited at the prospect of studying here. She wanted to study everything.

“She was constantly upbeat,” he added. “She just brought something new and wonderful to the College. People are devastated.”

English instructor Ellen Mankoff taught Kathryn in her course “All About Eve.” “She lit up the room,” Mankoff said of Kathryn, who took a seat at Mankoff's right hand at the seminar table.

“It was not simply that she was brilliant, but that she was genuinely interested in what all of her classmates had to say. She was generous,” Mankoff said. “One of her classmates pointed out that she was one of the kindest, most generous and optimistic people they had met.

“One student said she could lead a classroom discussion herself, but she had the sensitivity to step back when someone else wanted to speak,” Mankoff said. “She was full of the joy of learning and she was able to communicate that in a way that was inspirational and didn't cause envy. She was wonderful.”

Her friend Johanna Klinman '15 of Potomac, Maryland, described her as “incredibly kind” with a sympathetic ear. She shared her knowledge but did not boast. Her heavy class load did not appear to weigh on her, Klinman said. Kathryn was known to bounce cheerfully down a Lewis Hall corridor at 3:00 a.m. during a study break. “She was a happy person, a very happy person.”

At the Charlotte Country Day School, she was part of Model United Nations and Academic WorldQuest. She was the fiction editor for the Opus literary magazine, played soccer, and spent time working in the school office.

In a statement, Mark Reed, head of school at Charlotte Country Day, said, “Kathryn distinguished herself as a young woman of integrity, an advocate for those who needed help, and a trustworthy friend.” She was honored there for “exemplifying passion for literature” and for her contributions to the study of history. Faculty references for Kathryn noted her maturity, her writing skills, and her sense of honor. She was described as “one of the best students” and a “literature connoisseur.”

Kathryn could be awkward socially, her father said, but that, in turn, tuned her sense of empathy. “She helped others who might be considered disadvantaged,” he said. Mankoff noted that Kathryn “always had a compliment for someone when they were feeling down. She was the one who would say something to make them smile.”

Kathryn wrote, “I believe written words are the ultimate source of comfort in my life, reading the ultimate pleasure. There is a freedom in reading or writing literature that cannot be found anywhere else.” Only the discussion of literature rivaled her love of reading. “I love inhabiting the worlds inside books, and talking about them keeps these worlds alive longer, and even, if you are lucky, illuminates meaning and introduces new ideas.”

Kathryn was survived by her father; mother, Libby Currier; brothers Clark and John; maternal grandparents Susan and John Wetzel; and grandmother, Nancee Currier. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Charlotte Country Day School General Scholarship Funds, 1440 Carmel Rd., Charlotte, North Carolina, 28226.

John G. Smale H'74 P '79, of complications from pulmonary fibrosis, on November 19, 2011. The Cincinnati man was eighty-four.

He served as a Kenyon trustee from 1967-88, board chairman from 1976-81, and emeritus trustee since 1988. John was a business titan who provided key leadership at Procter & Gamble and General Motors.

“John Smale was a distinguished and accomplished trustee and among those board leaders who helped put Kenyon on sound financial footing during challenging times,” President S. Georgia Nugent said. “He was dedicated to the well being of the College.” Described by the New York Times as “a major figure in Cincinnati's civic and philanthropic circles,” John was also a generous supporter of Kenyon.

John was credited with transforming both of the international companies he led, according to the Reuters news agency. He became president at Procter & Gamble in 1974 and added the title chief executive officer in 1981, continuing in that role until 1990. He retired from the board of directors in 1995. The company doubled its sales to more than $24 billion, added fifteen new product categories, and expanded its international presence while John was CEO, Reuters reported. “John was the single most inspiring leader I have ever known,” said John Pepper, Procter & Gamble CEO from 1995-99.
“He represented the soul of P. & G.,” current CEO Robert A. McDonald told the New York Times.

John joined the company in 1952, starting in the toilet-goods division. He managed a new toothpaste brand, Crest, and won an American Dental Association endorsement of the toothpaste, a “pioneering agreement,” according to the Times.

While chief executive at Procter & Gamble, in 1982, he was named to the General Motors board. After ten years, he was part of a successful boardroom coup, ousting Robert C. Stempel as chairman and chief executive at General Motors. John became chairman, a role he maintained until his 1995 retirement. John helped rescue General Motors from the brink of bankruptcy and the automaker returned to profitability, the Times reported.

John also served on the boards of J.P. Morgan and Eastman Kodak.

He graduated from Miami University in 1949. To help pay for his Miami education, he wrote the books Party 'Em Up and Party 'Em Up Some More and sold them to fraternities and sororities around the country. In addition to the honorary Doctor of Laws degree he received from Kenyon in 1974, he received honorary degrees from Miami, DePauw University, St. Augustine's College, and Xavier University.

Phyllis, his wife of fifty-six years, died in 2006. His twin sister, Joy, died in 2000. He is survived by children John G. Smale Jr., Peter M. Smale, Catherine Anne Caldemeyer, and Lisa Smale Corbett '79, and five grandchildren, including Chris J. Caldemeyer '07.

William A. “Bill” Stroud Jr. H '88 P '76, of complications from Alzheimer's disease, on December 10, 2011. The Mount Vernon, Ohio, man was ninety.

Bill was an emeritus trustee and a longtime Mount Vernon community leader. He was a retired president and chairman of First-Knox National Bank. In addition to serving as a Kenyon trustee and board chairman, Bill was a member of the boards of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon/Knox County Community Trust, 4-H, Knox County Symphony, and the Knox County Chamber of Commerce. He was also elected to the Federal Reserve Board of Cleveland.

Bill served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, rose to the rank of major, and became a decorated pilot of the B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. He was awarded the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, five Air Medals, and six battle stars.

His Ohio banking career began in Mansfield with the First National Bank. He became president of First-Knox National Bank in 1967 and retired in 1987. He was named board chairman in 1987 and continued in that role through 1988.

“He was involved in many community organizations that made a difference in … the communities we serve,” said Vickie A. Sant, First-Knox president. “First-Knox purchased a piece of property on Coshocton Road long before anyone could envision that Coshocton Road would become the business district it is today,” she said. “It is that vision that helped shape First-Knox not only during the years that Bill was president, but also for the future.”

Barbara Barry, a longtime family friend of Bill and his wife, Peggy, described Bill as a valued mentor, especially after the death of her father, former Kenyon trustee Fred Barry Jr. '42. “The Strouds have been extremely generous over the years to the Mount Vernon, Gambier, and Knox County communities,” Barry said. “Bill's leadership and philanthropy have touched the lives of many individuals and organizations for the past forty-five years.”

Bill joined the Kenyon Board of Trustees in 1976 and became an emeritus trustee in 1997. Kenyon awarded Bill an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1988. College President Philip H. Jordan Jr. said then, “The bank has thrived under your leadership, growing in scope, remaining financially sound, and continuing its commitment to the home community while expanding into new areas. Community service is your personal as well as your business watchword.” In 1998, Bill received the Thomas B. and Mary M. Greenslade Award for his demonstrated affection for and loyalty to the College.

Bill also received an honorary degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

He was survived by Peggy, his wife of sixty-five years, and his son, Kimbol B. Stroud '76. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, Central Ohio Chapter, 1379 Dublin Rd., Columbus, Ohio, 43215, or to a preferred charity in his name.

Charles R. Ritcheson, professor of history, on December 8, 2011. The Washington, D.C., man was eighty-six.

Charles enjoyed a distinguished career as an author, cultural envoy, educator, and historian. He earned a bachelor's in philosophy and classics at the University of Oklahoma in 1946. As an undergraduate, he served in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an officer. He later earned a doctorate at St. Edmund Hall at Oxford University.

Charles joined Kenyon as an associate professor in 1953 after teaching at the Oklahoma College for Women. He became a full professor at Kenyon in 1960 and chairman of the Department of History in 1964.

“At Kenyon, Ritcheson came of age as an inspiring teacher of British and European history, with an infectious sense of humor, sophistication, and joie de vivre that he effectively communicated to students,” said his former student John B. Hattendorf '64 H '97, the Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History at the Naval War College and director of the Naval War College Museum. Charles had asked Hattendorf to speak at his memorial service, which took place on December 28, 2011, in Washington.
While at Kenyon, Hattendorf said, Charles “made remarkable contributions to the general intellectual life at Kenyon by attracting a wide range of major figures to the campus for public lectures.”
Charles left Kenyon in 1965 to become history department chair and director of graduate studies in history at Southern Methodist University. He joined the faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1971.

After three years at USC, he became the cultural attaché for the U.S. Embassy in London, where he entertained frequently in his Chelsea Square home. Among his guests in London was Princess Margaret, who remarked to him, “You must be ecstatic to have got rid of us 200 years ago.” Charles replied, “Oh, ma'am, that is an open question … It is sad, ma'am, to have missed my chance to be duke of Oklahoma.”
Charles returned to USC in 1977 as a distinguished professor. He was eventually named university librarian and dean. He left USC in 1991 and was appointed executive vice president of the Fund for Arts and Culture in Eastern Europe. Based in Paris, he served in that role until 1996. In 1997, he became executive vice president for planning for the Trust for Museum Exhibitions in Washington, D.C.
He was the author of British Politics in the American Revolution (1953) and The Aftermath of Revolution: British-American Relations, 1783-1795 (1968).

Charles was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley. He was survived by his wife, Alice, and six sons.