College loses long-time family supporters
Liz Essley
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
Harry and Marguerite Kendall, longtime donors and supporters of Hillsdale College, died early this semester, separated in death by only two weeks.
The Kendalls, philanthropists from Portland, Ore., provided scholarships for Hillsdale students from Oregon, starting in 1995, and also donated the leadership gift for constructing Kendall Hall. In 2004, the building was named in their honor.
Harry Kendall learned about Hillsdale through the college's speech digest, Imprimis, said Vice President for Institutional Advancement John Cervini. After the 1984 Supreme Court case that ruled Hillsdale would have to count students by race should they continue receiving federal loans, Kendall phoned the school and asked to fund scholarships.
"Harry understood it was important for a young person to have an education. He took that very seriously," Cervini said.
The Kendalls took a personal interest in their scholarship recipients, often interviewing them in person. Cervini said he knew of two cases where the Kendalls continued financially helping their students all the way through graduate school.
The scholarship fund is still in existence, and will begin funding students again through an endowment starting in fall of 2009, Cervini said.
Born in 1913, Harry C. Kendall Jr. graduated from Stanford University and worked in the insurance industry for over 60 years. He served as president of both the Portland and the Oregon Association of Insurance Agents.
"He had a can-do spirit," Kendall's daughter, Ann Kendall Taylor, said. "He had the curiosity of a dozen men. At 95 he was still learning things."
In 1974 he married Marguerite De Reamer.
"The two of them were a real team. They did everything together," Cervini said.
Marguerite Kendall, born in 1917, volunteered as a Red Cross staff assistant during World War II. Both she and Harry were active in their community, giving time and money to various Portland organizations.
Though the Kendalls attended the groundbreaking for the classroom building named in their honor, they were unable to come to the opening due to Marguerite's health. But she hoped to live long enough to see the building eventually.
"That was her goal," Taylor said.
The Kendalls came about a year later to see the building. Though they didn't want much fanfare, Cervini said, scholarship students met them in the lobby, as a surprise.
"It was everything they had anticipated and more," Taylor said.
Harry Kendall died Aug. 26. Marguerite followed him in death exactly two weeks later on Sept. 9.
The Kendalls, philanthropists from Portland, Ore., provided scholarships for Hillsdale students from Oregon, starting in 1995, and also donated the leadership gift for constructing Kendall Hall. In 2004, the building was named in their honor.
Harry Kendall learned about Hillsdale through the college's speech digest, Imprimis, said Vice President for Institutional Advancement John Cervini. After the 1984 Supreme Court case that ruled Hillsdale would have to count students by race should they continue receiving federal loans, Kendall phoned the school and asked to fund scholarships.
"Harry understood it was important for a young person to have an education. He took that very seriously," Cervini said.
The Kendalls took a personal interest in their scholarship recipients, often interviewing them in person. Cervini said he knew of two cases where the Kendalls continued financially helping their students all the way through graduate school.
The scholarship fund is still in existence, and will begin funding students again through an endowment starting in fall of 2009, Cervini said.
Born in 1913, Harry C. Kendall Jr. graduated from Stanford University and worked in the insurance industry for over 60 years. He served as president of both the Portland and the Oregon Association of Insurance Agents.
"He had a can-do spirit," Kendall's daughter, Ann Kendall Taylor, said. "He had the curiosity of a dozen men. At 95 he was still learning things."
In 1974 he married Marguerite De Reamer.
"The two of them were a real team. They did everything together," Cervini said.
Marguerite Kendall, born in 1917, volunteered as a Red Cross staff assistant during World War II. Both she and Harry were active in their community, giving time and money to various Portland organizations.
Though the Kendalls attended the groundbreaking for the classroom building named in their honor, they were unable to come to the opening due to Marguerite's health. But she hoped to live long enough to see the building eventually.
"That was her goal," Taylor said.
The Kendalls came about a year later to see the building. Though they didn't want much fanfare, Cervini said, scholarship students met them in the lobby, as a surprise.
"It was everything they had anticipated and more," Taylor said.
Harry Kendall died Aug. 26. Marguerite followed him in death exactly two weeks later on Sept. 9.
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